ESQUI-CENTENNIAL 


OF 


ETERBOROUGH,  N.  H 


OCTOBER    24TH,    1889. 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

Ex  Libris 

Katharine  F.  Richmond 

and 
Henry  C.  Fall 


PROCEEDINGS 


SESQUI-CENTENNIAL 


CELEBRATION 


PETERBOROUGH,  N.  H, 

THURSDAY,  OCT.  24,  1889, 


WITH    THE    ACTION    OF   THE   TOWN   AND   ITS   COMMITTKKS   INCIDENTAL 

THERETO. 


PETERBOKO': 

PRINTED    AT  THE   1'ETEUBOHO'   THAN8CUIIT  OFFICE. 

1890. 


F 


ACTION  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  PETERBOROUGH  AND  ITS 
COMMITTEES, 

PRELIMINARY  TO  ITS  SESQUI-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION, 
THURSDAY,  OCTOBER  24ra,  1889. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  November  6,  1888,  under  the  ar- 
ticle in  the  warrant  to  see  what  action  the  town  would  take  for  the 
proper  observance  of  the  150th  anniversary  of  its  settlement,  it 
was  voted 

"That  Frederick  Livingston,  R.  B.  Hatch,  D.  M.  White,  J.  R. 
Miller  and  M.  L.  Morrison  be  a  committee  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  advisability  of  observing  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  an- 
niversary of  the  incorporation  of  the  town  by  an  appropriate  cele- 
bration, and  report  a  suitable  program  for  the  occasion  at  the  an- 
nual town  meeting  in  March  next." 

At  its  annual  meeting,  held  March  12,  1889,  the  committee  on 
the  celebration  of  the  150th  anniversary  made  the  following  re- 
port : 

"The  committee  appointed  by  the  town  November  G,  1888,  to 
take  into  consideration  the  advisability  of  observing  the  150th  an- 
niversary of  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  and  report  a  suitable 
program,  etc.,  have  given  the  subject  that  consideration  which  in 
their  judgment  its  importance  demands,  and  in  deference  to  the 
wishes  of  a  large  number  of  our  citizens,  would  recommend  the 
adoption  of  the  following  by  the  town  at  its  present  meeting: 

Resolved,  That  we  celebrate,  on  Thursday,  the  24th  day  of  Octo- 
ber next,  the  150th  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town. 

Resolved,  That  the  following  citizens  constitute  an  honorary 
committee  on  that  occasion:  Frederick  Livingston,  John  II.  M  or- 
ison, William  S.  Treadwell,  Jesse  Upton,  Theophilus  P.  Ames, 
Alvah  Ames,  John  Little,  Samuel  R.  Miller.  Nathaniel  II.  Moore, 
Daniel  B.  Cutter,  Asa  Davis,  Amzi  Chi  Ids,  Thomas  Little,  Nathan 
B.  Buss,  Sargent  Bohonon,  Samuel  Converse. 

Resolved,  That  the  following  citi/ens  are  chosen  as  a  committee 
of  arrangements,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  tf>  invite  such  guests  as 
they  shall  see  fit,  and  do  and  provide  all  things  necessary  for  the 
celebration,  viz.:  John  R.  Miller,  Charles  II.  Brooks,  Ebenczer  W. 
Mclntosh,  Charles  Scott,  («eorge  W.  Farrar,  William  Ames,  John 
Wilder,  Thomas  B.  Tucker,  Winslow  S.  Kyes,  Joseph  Furiiuni, 
Rilcy  B.  Hatch,  Frank  G.  Clarke,  EzraM.  Smith,  Daniel  M.  White, 


1066130 


.l:ii ncs  1'.  Brennan,  Samuel  E.  Crowell,  James  11.  Wood,  William 
H.  Walbridge,  Sylvester  Tenney,  Andrew  J.  Walbridge,  John 
<;;ilr>,  Mortii-r  I,.  Morrison.  <  inmvillr  1'.  Fell.  Fll>ri<li;v  Howe, 
-Joseph  Bracked,  John  (.Ysigin,  Albert  W.  Noone,  William  Moore, 
George  II.  Longley,  Stephen  D.  Robbe,  John  Q.  Adams,  Collins  C. 
Bobbins,  Isaac  Hadley,  John  O.  Nay,  Jones  N.  Dodge,  Charles 
Wilder,  Henry  I\.  French,  Franklin  Field,  Andrew  A.  Farns- 
worth,  Willard  D.  Chase,  John  H.  Cutler,  William  G.  Livingston. 

Resolved,  That  the  town  raise  and  appropriate  the  sum  of  three 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  any  ex- 
penses incident  to  the  celebration,  and  that  the  Selectmen  are  here- 
by authorized  to  draw  orders  on  the  treasurer  for  all  bills  of  said 
committees,  provided  their  amount  shall  not  exceed  the  above 
named  sum." 

Voted  to  accept  the  above  report,  and  to  adopt  the  resolutions, 
and  raise  and  appropriate  the  sum  of  $350  for  that  purpose. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  committee  of  arrangements,  at  which 
a  majority  wTas  present,  held  May  1,  John  R.  Miller  was  elected 
chairman,  and  James  F.  Brennan,  Secretary.  William  Ames,  Wil- 
liam H.  Walbridge  and  John  Wilder  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  nominate  the  several  committees  necessary  to  carry  out  the  cele- 
bration, and  report  at  a  future  meeting. 

M.  L.  Morrison,  R.  B.  Hatch  and  J.  R.  Miller  were  elected  as  a 
committee  to  select  and  secure  the  orator  of  the  day,  and  said 
committee  made  as  their  report,  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  com- 
mittee of  arrangements,  held  June  12,  that  they  had  secured  Hon. 
Nathaniel  Holmes,  of  Cambridge,  Mass. 

At  this  meeting,  the  committee  on  nominations  for  sub-com- 
mittees, made  their  report,  which  was  adopted,  and  the  following 
persons  constitute  the  various  committees  who  prosecuted  their 
various  departments  to  a  successful  termination : 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. — F.  G.  Clarke,  H.  K.  French,  Charles 
Scott,  Wm.  Ames,  W.  D.  Chase. 

COMMITTEE  ON  INVITATIONS. — Joseph  Farnum,  W.  G.  Living- 
ston, Charles  Wilder,  A.  A.  Farnsworth,  E.  M.  Smith. 

COMMITTEE  ON  CoLLATiON.^Isaac  Pettengill,  Sylvester  Tenney, 
Jones  N.  Dodge. 

COMMITTEE  ON  DECORATIONS. — John  Gates,  F.  A.  Tracy,  W.  S. 
Kyes. 

COMMITTEE  ON  Music.— Fred  Robbe,  Fred  J.  Ames,  T.  F.  Burns. 

COMMITTEE  ON  FINANCE.— C.  H.  Brooks,  E.  W.  Mclntosh,  S. 
E.  Crowell. 

It  was  voted  that  the  executive  committee,  and  those  on  decora- 
tion and  collation  have  power  to  appoint  such  sub-committees,  and 
obtain  such  other  assistance  as  may  be  necessary  in  carrying  out 
the  details  of  their  several  offices. 


The  committee  to  secure  an  orator,  with  the  secretary,  were  ap- 
pointed to  furnish  the  orator  such  information  and  dates  as  he 
may  require. 

The  executive  committee,  at  a  meeting  held  September  20,  de- 
cided upon  a  grand  trades'  procession,  as  part  of  the  program, 
and  also  to  add  an  antiquarian  room,  as  one  of  the  attractive  fea- 
tures. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Scott,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Steele,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wm.  Moore,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  E.  Saunders,  were  appoint- 
ed a  committee  to  have  in  charge  the  antiquarian  room. 

James  F.  Brennan,  John  Wilder,  Charles  C.  Spear  were  appoint- 
ed a  committee  to  have  in  charge  the  street  parade. 

William  Moore  was  appointed  by  the  committee  on  music  to  have 
charge  of  the  singing. 

George  H.  Longley  was  appointed  to  see  that  those  who  were 
members  of  the  band  and  chorus  fifty  years  ago  were  invited  and 
assigned  a  prominent  place  in  the  hall. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  executive  committee,  held  October  5,  John 
R.  Miller  was  selected  as  President  of  the  Day,  Chai'les  Scott, 
Toastmaster,  Gen.  D.  M.  White,  Chief  Marshal,  with  power  to 
appoint  his  aids;  Joseph  Farnum  and  John  Scott  a  committee  to 
have  in  charge  the  newspaper  reporters  who  may  be  present; 
H.  K.  French,  M.  L.  Morrison,  A.  A.  Farnsworth  a  committee  on 
reception. 

A  route  of  the  procession  (which  is  embraced  in  the  general  or- 
ders of  the  chief  marshal),  and  a  program  for  the  exercises  in  the 
town  hall  were  adopted. 

The  committee  of  invitation  reported  that  they  had  sent  out  up- 
ward of  eight  hundred  circular  invitations,  and  had  the  names  of 
about  one  hundred  more  former  residents  whose  present  address 
they  had  been  unable  to  ascertain. 

The  committee  on  collation  reported  that  they  had  arranged 
with  Krvin  II.  Smith  to  provide  the  dinner  in  the  banquet  hall,  at 
a  stipulated  price. 

It  was  voted  to  invite  all  citizens  in  the  village,  and  especially 
those  on  the  line  of  march,  to  decorate  their  houses,  thus  render- 
ing our  village  more  attractive,  and  emphasizing  our  welcome  to 
our  absent  sons  and  daughters  who  meet  with  us  on  this  festive 
occasion. 

It  was  also  voted  that  the  executive  committee  provide  for  the 
decoration  of  the  exterior  of  the  town  hall  building. 

It  was  voted  that  the  exercises  of  the  day  be  followed  by  a  grand 
vocal  concert,  and  the  committee  reported  that  they  had  engaged 
the  celebrated  Arion  Quartet,  assisted  by  Miss  Ida  Florence,  a 
professional  reader. 


The  following  general  orders  were  issued  by  Gen.  D.  M.  White, 
upon  assuming  the  position  assigned  him: 

GENERAL  ORDERS  OFFICE  OF  CHIEF  MARSHAL, 

No.  1.  GRANITE  BLOCK. 

Peterboro'.  N.  H.,  October  IP,  1S8J. 

I.  Having  been  appointed  Chief  Marshal  of  the  exercises  on  ihe  occasion  of  the 
celebration  of  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  Incorporation  of  the 
town  of  Peterboro',  to  be  held  on  the  24th  inst.,  I  hereby  assume  the  duties  of  the  of- 
Hce,  and  announce  Ihe  following  appointments  as  Assistant  Marshals  and  Aids  :  Capt. 
L.  P.  Wilson,  Chief  of  Staff;   Capt.  M.  L.  Morrison,  Assistant  Marshal  and  Chief  of 
Division  ;  Capt.  C.  A.  Jaquith,  Assistant  Marshal  and  Chief  of  Division ;    Aids— Her- 
man A.  White,  Dr.  F.  A.  Hodgdon,  John  C.  Swallow,  Rev.  J.  H.  Hoffman,  Dr.  C.  J. 
Allen,  John  II.  Dane,  John  W.  Robbe,  Rev.  W.  H.  Walbiidge. 

II.  Chiefs  of  Divisions  and  Aids  will  report  to  the  Chief  Marshal  at  his  office, 
mounted,  at  8  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  24th  instant.  They  will  also  report  in  person  to  Capt. 
Wilson,  Chief  of  Staff,  at  such  time  or  timea  before  the  day  of  parade  as  he  may  des- 
ignate, far  tr.o  purpose  of  instruction. 

III.  Peterboro'  Cadet  Band,  A.  F.  Stevens  Post  6.  G.  A.  R.,  Charles  L.  Fuller  Camp, 
8.  of  V.,  and  the  Peterboro'  High  School  Cadets  will  report  to  H.  A.  White  in  front  of 
G.  A.  R.  Headquarters  promptly  at  S:~0  a.  m.,  the  24th  inst.,  who  will  report  with  the 
command  to  the  Chief  Marshal  at  8:15  a.  in.,  near  the  resl  lence  of  Dr.  Chase  on  Con- 
cord St.,  where  temporary  headquirtsrs  will  be  establ'uheJ. 

IV.  Capt.  E.  H.  Smith  commanding  Troop  A.  Cavalry,  N.  H.  N.  G.,  will  report 
with  his  command  to  the  Chief  Marshal  at  temporary  headquaiters  as  designated  in 
paragraph  III.  of  these  order?,  at  8:10  a.  m.,  on  the  morning  of  the  parade. 

V.  The  line  will  be  formed  in  three  divisions,  the  light  of  the  first  resting  on  Con- 
cord St.  near  the  village  cemetery,  and  will  break  into  column  in  the  f  jllowing  or- 
der: 

Platoon  of  Police. 

Chief  Marshal  and  Aids. 

First  Dic'ialm. 

Peterboro'  Cadit  Band— F.  J.  Ames,  Leader. 
Aaron  F.  Stevens  Post  6,  G.  A.  R.— George  R.  Peasley,  Commander. 

Chas.  L.  Fuller  Camp,  S.  of  V.— E.  M.  RobbinF,  Commander. 

Peterboro'  High  School  Cadets — Harry  L.  Steele,  Commander. 

Troop  A,  Cavalry— E.  H.  Smith,  Commander. 

The  Trade  Procession  will  b3  divi  led,  and  will  constitute  the  second  and  third  di- 
visions. They  will  be  underthe  command  of  Captains  Morrison  and  Jaquiih,  respec- 
tively, and  will  b3  be  f  jrmed  on  the  left  of  the  nVst  division  at  the  north  end  of  Con- 
cord St.  All  teams  and  representations  of  trade  and  industry  must  report  to  the 
Chief  Marthvl  punctually  at  S:io  a.  m. 

VI.  The  co  umn  will  move  precisely  at  9  o'clock  in  the  order  above  named  over  the 
following  route  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  tife  executive  committee  :   Up  Concord 
St.  to  M«in,  up  Main  to  Grove,  through  Grove  St.  and  over  Motion  Bridge  to  Granite 
St.,  through  Granite  to  Main,  up  Main  and  Union  Sts.  to  Prospect  St.,  when  the  second 
and  third  divisions  will  be  dismissed,  the  flrst  division  returning  down  Union  and 
Main  St«.  to  the  town  hall,  where  it  will  be  disbanded. 

VII.  Parties  who  participate  in  the  trade  or  industrial  parade  can  confer  with 
Capt.  Wilson,  Chief  of  Staff,  or  the  Chiefs  of  Divisions,  for  any  inf  urination  at  any  time 
prior  to  the  day  of  celebration.     Any  parlies  who  have  not  already  signHied  their  In- 
tention to  take  part  in  the  parade  but  desire  to  do  so,  should  notify  Capt.  M.  L.  Morri- 
son, Jhai  a  place  may  be  assigned  them  in  the  procession.     Believing  as  I  do  that  all 
citizens  who  are  enterpri-ing  enough  to  engage  in  thU  parade,  can  realizs  and  com- 
prehend the  importance  and  absolute  necessity  of  punctuality,  it  seems  unnecessary 
for  me  to  again  remind  them  that  they  should  report  promptly  at  the  lime  and  places 
designated  in  these  order?,  that  the  literary  and  other  exercises  may  not  be  delayed 
or  interrupted,  bearing  in  mind  that  the  column  will  move  at  9  o'clock,  precisely,  on 
the  morning  of  "Tli«  Day  we  Celebrate." 

D.  M.  WHITE,  Chief  Marshal. 
L.  P.  WILSON,  Chief  of  Staff. 


PARADE  OF  TRADES'  PROCESSION. 


The  future  historian  of  Peterborough  will  have  occasion  to  re- 
cord Thursday,  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  October,  1889,  as  wit- 
nessing one  of  the  most  interesting,  if  not  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant events  in  the  history  of  the  town.  Other  events  may  have  left 
a  more  lasting  impress  upon  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the 
town,  but  none  ever  afforded  the  opportunity  for  so  much  real  sol- 
id happiness  and  enjoyment  of  the  multitude  of  sons  and  daughters 
of  the  good  old  town  as  did  this  occasion.  On  that  day  the  peo- 
ple of  Peterborough  had,  by  special  invitation,  invited  all  the  ab- 
sent sons  and  daughters  and  all  former  residents  of  the  town,  to 
join  with  them  in  celebrating,  with  fitting  exercises,  the  one  hun- 
dred and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  town.  The 
response  was  gratifying  in  the  extreme. 

For  many  days  previous  the  incoming  trains  brought  many,  and 
on  the  twenty-third  they  Averc  heavily  freighted  with  those  who 
joyously  accepted  the  invitation  to  join  in  the  festivities  of  the 
following  day.  And  many  were  the  warm  hearted  and  cordial 
greetings  of  old  friends  who  had  long  been  separated  by  distant 
homes.  The  excursion  trains  on  the  morning  of  the  celebration 
were  packed  with  people  from  the  adjoining  towns,  while  others 
came  in  teams,  and  not  within  the  last  half  century  had  there  been 
so  large  a  gathering  of  people  in  the  good  old  town,  especially  of 
its  absent  sons  and  daughters,  as  came  together  on  this  memorable 
occasion. 

The  changeable  aspect  of  the  weather  for  several  days  previous 
had  caused  alternate  hopes  and  fears  in  the  minds  of  those  most 
interested  in  the  celebration,  but  when  the  morn  came  the  heart  of 
the  great  multitude  rejoiced  in  the  promise  of  a  perfect  day.  And 
the  promise  was  fulfilled,  for  it  proved  a  most  glorious  day  unto 
the  end. 

At  an  early  hour  the  main  streets  of  the  village  were  filled  with 
teams  and  lined  with  pedestrians  on  either  side,  all  anxious  to  se- 
cure a  full  view  of  the  trades'  procession,  which  was  forming  at 
the  lower  end  of  Concord  street.  The  procession  was  formed  un- 
der the  direction  of  Gen.  D.  M.  White,  chief  marshal  of  the  day, 
assisted  by  numerous  aids,  and  moved  promptly  at  the  appointed 
hour — 9  A.  M. — in  the  following  order: 

FIRST  DIVISION. 

Platoon  of  Police. 

Chief  Marshal,  General  Daniel  M.  White. 

Capt.  L.  P.  Wilson,  Chief  of  Staff. 

Hon.  M.  L.  Morrison  and  Capt.  C.  A.  Jiujuith,  Assistant  Marshals 
and  Chiefs  of  Divisions. 


8 

Aids — Herman  A.  White,  Dr.  F.  A.  Hodgdon,  John  C.  Swallow, 
Rev.  J.  H.  Hoffman,  Dr.  C.  J.  Allen,  John  H.  Dane,  John  W. 
Robbe,  Rev.  W.  II.  Walbridge,  mounted. 

Peterboro'  Cadet  Band,  21  pieces,  F.  J.  Ames,  leader. 
Aaron  F.  Stevens  Post  6,  G.  A.  R.,  Geo.  R.  Peasley,  commander. 

Geo.  B.  McClellan  Post  88,  G.  A.  R.,  of  East  Jaffrcy, 
"W.  J.  Allen,  commander. 

Peterboro'  School  Cadets,  Harry  L.  Stcele,  commander. 
Troop  A,  Cavalry,  N.  H.  N.  G.,  Ervin  H.  Smith,  commander. 

SECOND  DIVISION. 

Ancient  Carriages,  one  containing  Will  A.  Knight  and  wife,  the 
other  Leroy  P.  Greenwood  and  daughter ;  A.  T.  Hovey  and  lady, 
and  John  F.  Dunklee  and  lady  mounted  on  pillions,  with  Geo. 
W.  Towle  on  foot  acting  as  conductor,  and  all  dressed  in  fine, 
well  preserved  old  costumes  of  the  last  century. 

Forty-five  Floats  and   Carriages  representing   the    Trades  and 
Industries  of  the  Town,  as  follows: 

Peterboro'  Transcript,  Messrs.  Farnum  &  Scott.  Reporters  taking 
notes  and  compositor  setting  type,  representing  a  printing  office 
in  operation.  A  printing  press  was  kept  in  motion  and  hand- 
bills were  thrown  out  along  the  entire  route  of  the  procession. 

Brennan's  Marble  and  Granite  Works,  established  in  1849. 
S.  Tenney  &  Son,  furniture,  carpets  and  furnishings. 

Tucker's  Hotel,  Thomas  B.  Tucker,  proprietor. 

Jesse  Martin,  tailoring  establishment  in  operation. 

Nichols  Brothers,  stove  dealers,  and  workers  in  tin,  sheet  iron, 

copper,  &c.    A  most  elaborate  display. 

G.  W.  Farrar  &  Son,  representation  of  the  interior  of  a  wheel- 
wright and  blacksmith  shop-forge  in  full  blast,  men  shaping  iron 
on  an  an  anvil  with  vigorous  blows,  a  body  maker  busy  on  a 
carriage,  wheels  and  other  parts  of  vehicles,  a  horse  meanwhile 
being  shod.  Upon  the  same  float  was  our  veteran  carriage 
painter,  Lorenzo  Holt,  with  his  men  engaged  in  painting. 

Peterboro'  Bakery  delivery  team. 

E.  Howe  &  Co.,  truss  and  supporter  manufactory  in  operation. 

Howard  M.  Hersey,  marble  and  granite  works. 

J.  C.  Diamond,  wood  and  lumber. 

Will  A.  Knight,  milk. 
C.  F.  Davis,  boots,  shoes  and  rubbers. 

The  Briggs  Piano   Stool  Company,   display  of 
manufactured  goods. 

A.  Taylor  &  Co.,  meats  and  provisions. 
Ambrose  L.  Shattuck,  ice. 

J.  M.  Collins,  milk. 
Smith  Brothers,  groceries  and  hardware,  two  teams. 


9 
J.  "Wilder  &  Co.,  clothing,  hats,  caps,  trunks,  &c. 

VinalFs  Mills,  Geo.  H.  Vinall  &  Co.,  proprietors,  lumber,  two 

teams,  one  with  unsawed  logs,  the  other  with  the 

finished  product  in  variety. 

L.  E.  Wilson,  artist,  display  of  photographic  work. 
THIRD  DIVISION. 

Two  teams  containing  a  choir  composed  of  the  girls  of  the  public 

schools. 

Frank  E.  Taggart,  display  of  stoves. 

E.  G.  Davis,  clothier,  hatter  and  gents'  furnisher. 

S.  P.  Longley,  meats  and  provisions. 

Phoenix  and  Union  Manufacturing  Companies,  three  floats,  one 
bearing  an  ancient  hand  loom  in  operation,  with  ancient  wheels 
both  great  and  small,  displayed  ready  for  the  spinners'  use. 
Next  came  a  modern  loom  weaving  cloth,  the  power  being  fur- 
nished by  a  belt  from  a  wheel  of  the  vehicle,  while  the  third 
team  contained  the  finished  products. 

Settler's  log  cabin  with  family  inside,  smoke  ascending  from  the 

chimney,  and  the  traditional  coon  skin  tacked 

up  just  outside  the  door. 

American  Express  Company  team,  Geo.  P.  Dustan,  agent. 

Walbridge  &  Taylor,  flour,  grain,  meal,  feed,  dry 
goods,  and  groceries. 

Alvin   Townsend,  teamster  and  general  jobber,  portable  engine 
mounted  on  a  truck. 

A.  Fuller,  mowing  machines  and  other  farm  machinery. 

W.  S.  Goodnow,  dry  goods,  groceries,  and  clerk  fitting  customer 
to  a  suit  of  ready  made  clothing. 

Boston  Store,  display  of  dry  goods,  cloaks,  small  wares,  &c. 
J.  G.  Leonard,  watches,  jewelry  and  sewing  machines. 

C.  Edwin  Jaquith  &  Co.,  carpenters  and  builders,  three  floats. 
The  first  had  a  log  cabin  in  process  of  building  while  the  pro- 
cession moved  on,  and  in  contrast  with  this  followed  another 
bearing  a  miniature  modern  house  on  which  the  carpenters  toiled 
energetically,  with  Marden  building  the  chimney,  the  third  con- 
taining an  exhibit  of  doors,  sash,  blinds,  &c. 

G.  S.  Stockwell  &  Co.,  and  C.  A.  Coffin  &  Co.,  shoes. 

Hilaire  Bourdon,  representation  of  Indians  and  early  settlers  In 
their  early  haunts,  showing  miniature  forest  and  wigwam. 

E.  H.  &  A.  O.  Smith,  market  gardeners,  extensive 
display  of  vegetables. 


EXERCISES  IN  TOWN  HALL 


FORENOON. 

Long1  befoi'e  the  lengthy  column  composing  the  Trades'  Proces- 
sion had  been  dismissed,  the  crowd  had  taken  possession  of  the 
town  hall  and  filled  every  available  seat  and  standing  place,  and 
promptly  at  11  o'clock  the  indoor  exercises  were  commenced. 

The  stage  was  tastefully  trimmed  with  evergreen  and  potted 
plants,  the  dates,  "1739,"  "1839"  and  "1889,"  being-  made  especial- 
ly conspicuous.  The  platform  was  occupied  by  the  officers  of  the 
day,  the  following  citizens  acting  as  vice  presidents:  Freder- 
ick Livingston,  John  H.  Morison,  Nathaniel  H.  Moore,  Isaac 
Hadley,  Thomas  Little,  Asa  Davis,  Sargent  Bohonon,  Nathan  B. 
Buss,  Amzi  Childs,  Christopher  A.  Wheeler,  Alvah  Ames,  Stephen 
White,  William  F.  Pratt,  Jesse  Upton,  Samuel  Converse,  Andrew 
A.  Farnsworth,  Stephen  D.  Robbe,  Theophilus  P.  Ames,  John  M. 
Ramsey,  Allen  Buckminster,  Hubert  Brennan,  Granville  P.  Felt, 
Franklin  Field,  Augustus  Fuller,  Charles  H.  Brooks,  Levi  Cross, 
John  B.  Dane,  John  Q.  Adams,  Joseph  Farnum,  and  with  these 
were  seated  a  chorus  of  forty  singers,  several  of  whom  partici- 
pated in  the  centennial  celebration  of  fifty  years  ago,  and  prom- 
inent invited  guests. 

The  formal  exercises  of  the  day  were  as  follows : 

Cverture,  "Mignonette,"  by  Peterboro'  Cadet  Band. 

Address  of  Welcome,  by  Hon.  F.  G.  Clarke,  Chairman  of  the 
Executive  Committee : 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  : — In  behalf  of  the  executive  committee 
representing  the  town  of  Peterboro'  upon  this  occasion,  I  extend 
to  each  and  all  a  cordial  and  friendly  welcome  to  the  festivities  of 
the  day,  and  I  assure  you  that  the  satisfaction  of  her  citizens  will 
be  co-extensive  with  the  enjoyment  of  their  guests.  We  have  met 
today  to  celebrate  an  important  event  in  the  history  of  our  town — 
the  absence  of  her  former  sons  and  daughters  would  have  been 
sadly  missed — their  presence  here  today  in  such  goodly  numbers 
makes  our  joy  complete,  and  it  is  the  truest  token  of  loyalty  and 
affection  that  you  could  possibly  render  to  the  old  place.  May  the 
tender  memories  of  the  past,  as  well  as  the  fond  enjoyment  of  the 
present,  amply  reward  you  for  your  efforts. 

Lord  Nelson  said  to  his  men  at  Trafalgar,  "England  expects 
every  man  to  do  his  duty."  In  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Peterboro' 


11 

I  say  to  you  that  every  person  has  performed  his  duty  in  connec- 
tion with  this  event,  and  spared  no  pains  to  make  this  a  day  of 
enjoyment  to  all,  and  what  we  expect  of  her  sons  and  daughters  is, 
to  "ask  and  it  shall  be  given  you."  Fifty  years  ago  today  the 
town  of  Peterboro'  celebrated  in  a  fitting  manner  the  one  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  its  corporate  existence.  Then  New  Eng- 
land and  California  were  separated  seemingly  by  impenetrable 
barriers ;  today  they  are  joined  together  by  a  band  of  iron  that 
will  make  them  neighbors  forever.  Then  the  knowledge  of  im- 
portant events  moved  at  a  moderate  pace;  today  intelligence  is 
flashed  under  the  Atlantic  ocean  to  the  Queen  of  England  almost 
instantaneously,  and  all  agree  that  we  are  living  in  a  marvellous 
age.  Then  the  town  of  Peterboro'  was  a  quiet,  isolated  village ; 
today  it  is  a  bustling,  thriving,  growing  town,  connected  by  rail 
or  wire  with  the  civilized  world. 

Is  it  not  most  fitting  that  we  should  pause  today,  upon  this  im- 
portant and  interesting  occasion,  beside  this  one  hundred  and 
fiftieth  milestone,  and  consider  together  the  changes,  the  wondrous 
changes  that  have  been  wrought  during  the  past  fifty  years  by  the 
hand  and  brain  of  man  ? 

Fifty* years  ago  today  such  men  as  Jonathan  Smith,  Stephen  P. 
Steele,  John  Scott,  James  Scott,  Frederick  Livingston,  William 
Follansbee,  Timothy  K.  Ames  and  others,  were  not  only  conspic- 
uous in  the  centennial  celebration  of  the  town,  but  they  were  im- 
portant factors  in  its  development  and  prosperity.  These  men 
with  one  exception  have  all  passed  away.  They  are  gone.  In  their 
day  and  generation  they  performed  well  their  parts,  and  they  have 
left  an  indcllible  stamp  upon  our  institutions  and  upon  the  char- 
acter of  our  people.  We  are  here  today,  among  other  things,  to 
pay  a  just  and  loyal  tribute  to  their  worth,  and  to  their  memory, 
and  while  they  wrought  exceedingly  well,  not  the  least  of  their 
achieve'ments  being  the  founding  of  the  first^/Vee  public  library  in 
the  United  States,  and  for  it  are  entitled  to  our  unspeakable  praise, 
yet  the  fact  is  that  the  present  generation  excels  the  past.  It  ought 
to  excel,  for  we  have  had  the  benefit  of  their  wisdom  and  experience. 
We  are  not,  however,  relying  upon  the  reputation  and  experience 
of  our  ancestry  alone,  but  rather  upon  the  brains  and  sagacity  of 
our  own  men  and  women,  adopting  that  as  a  motto  which  was 
never  known  to  fail,  Excelsior !  Excelsior ! 

If  the  standard  of  education,  temperance,  and  good  citizenship 
has  since  been  raised  by  us  to  a  considerable  extent,  I  am  sure  that 
the  former  sons  and  daughters  of  Peterboro'  will  not  be  jealous  of 
the  fact,  any  more  than  we  are  jealous  of  the  reputations  they  have 
won  abroad,  but  they  will  rather  rejoice  with  us  today  at  this  evi- 
dence of  our  progress  and  reform. 

While  we  may  have  advanced  in  these  respects,  there  are  some 
things  that  I  promise  you  have  not  changed.  They  never  will 


12 

change.  I  refer  to  the  hearts  of  our  people.  They  still  beat  as 
truly,  as  affectionately,  and  as  hospitably  as  they  did  in  '39.  And 
;IIM  i  ii  they  welcome  you  in  our  midst. 

Prayer  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Walbridge. 

Address  by  John  R.  Miller,  President  of  the  Day : 

FELLOW  CITIZENS  OF  PETERBOROUGH: — To  very  few,  and  but 
once  in  a  lifetime,  falls  the  honor  conferred  upon  me,  on  an  occa- 
sion like  the  present.  Appropriately  can  I  address  you  as  fellow 
citizens, -since  my  ancestors  were  among  the  first  settlers,  and  with 
their  descendants,  sleep  in  your  cemeteries ;  and  from  my  earliest 
recollections  this  has  been  my  home.  Here  have  I  labored  with 
and  for  you,  and  what  good  fortune  is  mine  has  been  acquired  in 
your  midst  and  by  your  favor. 

Fifty  eventful  years  have  passed  since  our  citizens  assembled, 
as  we  are  gathered  today,  to  celebrate  the  first  centennial  anniver- 
sary of  the  town,  and  with  glad  music  and  song — in  oration  and  re- 
sponsive addresses,  they  paid  their  tribute  to  the  early  settlers,  as 
they  recounted  their  hardships  and  privations — their  peculiarities 
and  their  virtues,  and  held  up  to  those  who  might  come  after  them, 
such  qualities  and  usages  as  should  pass  away  with  their  genera- 
tion. Their  tribute  to  those  sturdy  pioneers  was  not  unmerited. 
Not  alone  for  the  heritage  beqeathed  to  their  children  and  their 
children's  children,  was  their  gratitude  manifested,  but  in  the 
progress  they  had  developed.  At  the  close  of  the  day,  and  when 
the  darkness  rendered  it  nearly  impossible  to  distinguish  each 
other's  faces,  their  meeting  was  adjourned  for  a  century;  "and 
with  shouting  and  clapping  of  hands — joy  mingling  with  pensive 
thoughts — the  assembly  separated  to  lie  down  in  their  graves  long 
before  the  next  meeting  should  be  held."  Though  but  one  half 
that  time  has  elapsed,  how  true  of  nearly  all  those  who  were  then 
active  participants  in  those  scenes.  One  only  of  the  committee  of 
arrangements  is  with  us;  and  "grown  old  gracefully"  the  orator 
of  1839  is  spared  to  join  with  us  in  this  second  anniversary.  The 
commander  of  one  of  the  military  companies,  (S.  R.  Miller),  the 
pride  of  the  town,  which  added  much  to  the  pageantry  of  that  oc- 
casion, honors  our  gathering  by  his  presence,  and  a  few  of  that 
splendid  body  of  men  still  remain  to  participate  in  our  rejoicings. 
A  favored  few  of  those  who  joined  in  music  and  song  listen  once 
more  to  the  refrain,  while  the  youth  of  that  early  period  and  such 
as  have  since  come  upon  the  stage,  compose  the  active  celebrants 
of  today. 

The  record  of  the  first  half  of  her  second  century  is  fully  com- 
pleted, and  the  town  has  deemed  it  wise  that  we  come  together, 
and  invite  our  absent  sons  and  daughters  to  contemplate  that 
record  and  determine  for  ourselves  if  the  responsibilities  and  op- 
portunities committed  to  us  by  the  fathers  have  beeu  faithfully 
executed  and  wisely  improved.  To  this  end,  an  answer  to  the 


13 

inquiry,  "What  in  the  history  of  Peterboro'  during  the  fifty  years, 
is  deserving  of  a  celebration  ?"  made  to  the  committee  after  one 
of  its  meetings,  may  be  pertinent  to  the  hour.  What  we  were  in 
1839 — what  we  are  in  1889.  Material  progress,  wealth,  improve- 
ments and  natural  advantages  presented  to  the  rising  generation 
are  some  of  the  problems  presented,  as  well  as  that  important  one, 
"Have  we,  as  a  people,  improved  in  all  knowledge,  virtue,  and  every 
moral  principle  ?"  We  can  but  glance  at,  (we  cannot  realize) ,  the 
change  in  growth  and  general  outline  of  our  village  compared  to 
what  it  was  in  1839.  Few  of  the  buildings  of  that  time  are  now 
the  same,  while  larger  and  more  modern  structures  adorn  our 
streets,  and  our  manufactories  and  places  of  business  have  all 
been  added  as  the  old  gave  place  to  the  new ;  while  the  majority 
of  'farm  houses  are  supplanted  by  larger  and  more  convenient 
buildings,  streets  have  multiplied  with  sidewalks,  and  street  lamps, 
and  gutters  and  sewers ;  stone  bridges  span  the  rivers  in  place  of 
wooden ;  the  town  furnishes  its  own  time,  and  owns  its  own  ap- 
pliances for  extinguishing  fires ;  the  little  old  town  house  has  long 
been  a  dwelling  place,  while  a  more  commodious  succeeded  it,  and 
still  later,  the  present  luxurious  opera  house ;  the  little  red  school 
houses — one  out  in  the  lot,  and  one  on  the  hill,  where  first  we 
learned  to  read,  and  their  dubious  substitute — the  old  academy, 
within  whose  walls  so  many  of  us  received  our  all  of  educational 
advantages,  (now  alas!  forsaken),  while  today,  our  children  enjoy 
the  luxury  of  the  beautiful  rooms,  with  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments grouped  beneath  the  walls  of  the  building  that  crowns 
the  Hill  of  Science,  and  offering  to  them  educational  advantages 
undreamed  of,  when  to  those  pursuits  our  steps  we  bent.  The  va- 
rious religious  societies,  which  had  aforetime  worshipped  on  the 
hills,  wisely  removed  to  the  centre  their  earthly  temples,  within  a 
brotherly  distance  of  each  other,  and  with  their  modern  chapels 
and  organs,  have  banished  the  antiquated  bass  viol  and  violin.  The 
railroad  came,  and  then  another,  and  then  departed  the  old  stage 
coaches  and  their  merry  drivers — the  resounding  crack  of  their 
whips,  and  the  grace  and  ease  and  agility  with  which  they  round- 
ed out  the  trip — surmounted  the  rise  and  halted  at  the  hotel — while 
the  teams,  our  arteries  of  commerce  until  then,  sought  other  fields, 
and  the  mails  that  supplied  our  utmost  needs  at  three  times  a  week, 
have  increased  to  four  times  a  day,  and  still  in  our  fast  age,  the 
demand  is,  more  speed.  Our  neighbors  furnished  the  weekly 
news  and  supplied  the  locals,  save  what  we  purchased  from  the 
county  seat,  until  the  Transcript  had  its  birth;  and  then  the  daily 
papers  and  telegraph  and  telephone  are  some  among  the  many 
strides  in  our  advancing  progress. 

Eventful  years  truly  were  those  which  embrace  the  first  half  of 
the  period  of  which  we  take  note  today.  Often  was  our  peace 
broken  in  upon,  and  our  usual  quiet  disturbed.  Excitements  fol- 


14 

lowed  cacli  other  in  rapid  succession.  The  revolutionizing  politi- 
cal campaign  of  1840 — the  advent  of  Millerisrn,  followed  closely 
by  that  of  Mormonism,  in  the  labors  of  Magin  and  nearly  all  the 
prominent  Latter  Day  Saints — the  Gold  Fever  of  1849 — the  never- 
to-be-forgotten  Know  Nothing  agitation,  when  so  many  saw  Sam 
— the  birth  of  a  new  party  and  its  ultimate  triumph  in  the  election 
of  Abraham  Lincoln,  with  all  which  we  had  much  to  do  and  more 
to  say.  But  the  culmination  was  reached  when  a  portion  of  the 
country  resorted  to  arms  against  the  government,  and  the  tidings 
were  flashed  over  the  wires  that  Fort  Sumter  had  been  fired  upon. 
It  was  then  demonstrated,  and  not  before,  that  the  citizens  of  old 
Peterboro'  were  true  to  the  precepts  and  principles  of  our  ances- 
tors. There  was  not  a  disloyal  man  in  our  midst,  and  although 
strong  political  prejudices  were  manifested,  and  injudicious  utter- 
ances indulged  in,  I  think  I  know  whereof  I  speak,  when  I  assert 
that  no  traitor  had  a  dwelling  here. 

From  the  first  call  for  volunteers,  until  the  final  requisition,  all 
citizens  manifested  an  unflagging  interest  in  the  defence  of  the  na- 
tion. There  were  few  sacrifices  too  great  for  them  to  make. 
In  public  town  meetings  and  in  private  gatherings  they  provided 
for  furnishing  the  town's  quotas  as  fast  as  requisitions  Avere  made. 
They  were  lavish  of  their  means  that  their  men  should  have  every- 
thing required  for  their  necessities.  Ample  provision  was  made 
for  the  families  of  those  who  went  forth  to  do  battle  for  them. 
Our  best  and  bravest  abandoned  their  varied  callings,  and  the 
luxury  of  pleasant  homes  and  the  society  of  their  dearest  friends — 
marched  to  the  front  with  but  one  common  impulse,  and  that,  that 
the  nation  might  be  preserved — doing  all  and  daring  all,  if  but  the 
best  government  known  to  man  be  perpetuated.  In  the  heat  of 
summer,  in  the  cold  of  winter,  in  sunshine  and  in  storm,  in  swamp 
and  through  thicket,  they  faltered  not;  where  the  battle  raged 
fiercest,  and  where  the  killed,  wounded  and  missing  outnumbered 
the  survivors,  could  be  found  the  brave  volunteers  from  old  Peter- 
boro'. And  not  alone  went  they  forth.  The  loyal  hearts  and 
prayers  of  mothers  and  sisters,  of  fathers  and  brothers  and  friends 
went  with  them,  and  in  so  far  as  it  were  possible,  ministered  to 
their  needs,  and  aided  to  their  utmost  in  lightening  the  hardships 
that  their  devotion  to  country  had  imposed.  Cherished  and 
revered  will  ever  be  the  memory  of  those  who  laid  down  their 
lives;  while  our  gratitude  shall  in  no  degree  grow  less  toward 
those  who  returned  to  enjoy  with  us  the  protection  of  that  govern- 
ment which  they  so  heroically  maintained. 

It  must  be  apparent  to  the  unprejudiced  obsei'ver,  that,  as  a 
town,  we  have  kept  pace  with  the  outside  world  in  those  advances 
and  improvements  which  are  so  needful  in  rendering  a  community 
prosperous.  The  church  and  the  school  house,  emblematic  of  re- 
ligion and  intelligence — without  which  no  republic  can  endure — 


15 

improved  and  more  potent  for  good,  still  stand  side  by  side,  and 
for  the  higher  education  of  our  people.  In  our  customs  and  hab- 
its we  acknowledge  no  backward  step,  and  our  purpose  is  out- 
lined to  go  up  higher,  and  take  our  brother  with  us.  In  material 
wealth  we  rank  ninth  in  valuation  among  all  the  towns  in  the 
state.  In  influence,  political  and  otherwise,  we  call  your  attention 
to  the  number  of  our  citizens  who  have  filled  postitions  of  honor 
and  responsibility  in  the  state  and  county,  and  which  trusts  were 
executed  with  signal  ability ;  to  the  many  who  have  distinguished 
themselves  and  honored  the  town  in  the  legislative  department  of 
the  state,  and  to  that  still  larger  number  who  have  honored  the  va- 
rious offices  in  the  gift  of  the  town,  and  whose  faithful  services 
have  contributed  so  much  to  enhance  our  growth  and  prosperity. 

In  view  of  what  she  has  accomplished  and  of  what  that  is  an  ear- 
nest she  will  undertake,  is  it  necessary,  speaking  for  the  town,  for 
me  to  assert  that  there  is  no  better  place  upon  which  God's  sunshine 
falls  in  which  to  work  out  that  success  in  life  to  which  the  young 
man  or  woman,  native  or  adopted,  has  firmly ,  faithfully  and  deter- 
minedly resolved  to  achieve  ?  Not  one  of  our  citizens  in  all  the 
past,  nor  in  the  future  will  there  be  likely  to  be  one,  who  casts  his 
lot  with  the  dwellers  in  this  valley,  and  beneath  the  shadow  of  our 
grand  old  mountain,  but  will  find  that  his  merit,  ability  and  adap- 
tion for  position  will  be  recognized.  Such  has  been  the  policy  of 
this  community  since  it  had  an  organization.  "We  admit  that  the 
judgement  of  the  masses  is  critical — seemingly  sometimes  slow ; 
but  the  deserving  triumph  in  the  end. 

Assembled  here,  with  our  absent  sons  and  daughters,  we  would 
unite  in  doing  honor  to  the  memories  of  those  early  settlers  and 
their  descendants,  whose  untiring  industry,  sterling  virtues,  in- 
domitable energy  and  courage,  and  far  seeing  wisdom  have  made 
possible  the  Peterboro'  of  today.  Be  it  ours  to  transmit  to  our 
posterity  this  heritage,  with  vaster  possibilities  than  when  we  re- 
ceived  it — one  endeared  to  us  all  by  the  tenderest  memories  it  were 
possible  to  invoke — our  birthplace  and  our  home;  that  spot  to 
which  memory  shall  revert  in  all  the  adverse  hours  of  life,  and  the 
one  place  dearest  of  all  on  earth.  May  it  be  the  last  longing  earth- 
ly desire  of  every  native  son  and  daughter  that  they  be  laid 
to  rest  in  their  native  soil,  and  beside  the  friends  they  loved,  and 
their  requiem,  the  soughing  pines,  which  have  kept  unceasing 
vigils  over  the  graves  of  their  ancestors. 

Singing  by  the  choir,  Mozart's  12th  Mass,  "Glory  to  God  on 
High." 


AN   ADDRESS 

DELIVERED  AT  THE  150rii  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  PETER- 
BOROUGH, N.  H.,  OCTOBER  24,  1889, 

BY     NATHANIEL     HOLMEIS. 


MR.  PRESIDENT,  AND  FELLOW  CITIZENS: — We  are  here  assembled 
to  celebrate  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  town  of 
Peterborough.  "We  have  laid  aside  for  the  hour  the  absorbing  inter- 
ests of  the  present  that  we  may  duly  commemorate  the  deeds  and 
days  of  our  ancestors,  consider  of  our  own  progress,  and  take  some 
new  reckoning,  perhaps,  for  that  open  future,  which,  though  not 
altogether  unknowable,  not  even  the  prophet  of  the  Three  Times 
could  be  expected  to  reveal  to  us  in  full. 

The  town  of  Peterborough  may  be  said  to  date  its  origin  from 
the  year  1739,  when  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  made  a  grant  of 
a  township  of  six  miles  square  beyond  the  ridge  of  the  "East  Mo- 
nadnoc"  to  a  company  of  proprietors,  some  of  them  citizens  of  old 
Concord;  but  no  one  of  them  appears  to  have  become  an  actual 
settler.  The  whole  region  was  then  a  wilderness  of  forest.  A  few 
earlier  attempts -at  clearing  had  been  driven  off  by  the  Indians.  For 
some  time,  there  was  doubt  about  the  civil  jurisdiction  and  the 
title  to  the  soil;  but  in  1741  the  boundary  line  between  the  two 
provinces,  as  established  by  order  of  the  King  in  Council,  was  sur- 
veyed to  run  from  a  point  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimac  at 
Pawtucket  Falls  straight  westward  across  the  northward  trend  of 
the  river  valley  to  the  Connecticut,  cutting  the  old  town  of  Dun- 
stable  in  two  in  the  middle,  leaving  the  northern  part  to  take  the 
names  of  Nashua,  Hollis,  Merrimac  and  others,  and  clearly  fixing  this 
older  grant  within  the  province  of  New  Hampshire.  And  in  1748 
the  "Masonian  proprietors,"  who  had  acquired,  in  1746,  *  the  orig- 
inal grant  of  King  James  I.  to  the  council  of  Plymouth,  confirmed 
by  deed  the  titles  of  the  previous  grantees  and  settlers ;  and  as  early 
as  1753  the  new  town  had  taken  the  name  of  Peterborough  from  the 
Earl  of  Peterborough,  as  the  county  afterwards,  in  1771, 2  took  its 

(1)  For  a  statement  of  this  title,  see  the  "Address  of  the  Hon.  Joel  Parker,"  in  Cutter's 
History  of  Jaffrey,  Concord,  N.  H.,  1881,  pp.  544-552,  and  on  the  organization  of  towns, 
P-  554- 

(2)  Worcester's  History  of  Hollis,  Boston,  1870,  p.  121. 


17 

name  from  the  Earl  of  Hillsborough,  two  notable  Englishmen  of 
that  period.  It  was  incorporated  by  that  name  under  Gov.  Benning 
Wentworth,  on  the  17th  of  January,  1760;  and  then,  for  the  first 
time,  the  small  colony  of  hopeful  inhabitants  (who  had  thus  far 
made  their  own  laws),  was  invested  with  ample  powers  of  munici- 
pal government,  and  its  steady  growth  and  prosperity  were  as- 
sured. 

The  learned  centennial  address  of  the  Rev.  John  II.  Morison, 
who  stood  much  nearer  than  we  now  do  to  the  traditions  that  had 
come  down  through  the  older  men  from  the  earliest  times,  and  the 
elaborate  "History"  of  the  late  Dr.  Albert  Smith,  who  gave  much 
study,  care  and  pains  to  the  favorite  topic  of  his  later  years,  have 
left  little  that  can  be  added,  now,  to  the  story  of  the  first  settlers, 
or  even  to  the  account  of  the  civil,  industrial,  and  moral  or  relig- 
ious growth  and  development  of  the  whole  community  down  to  our 
day  and  generation.  We  delight  to  dwell  on  the  romantic  tale,  but 
here  we  must  take  an  eagle  flight  over  a  wide  field,  touching  only 
the  higher  tops  of  things,  those  main  facts  and  features  which,  like 
the  best  passages  of  scripture,  may  be  none  the  worse  for  being 
repeated. 

The  earliest  clearings,  made  in  face  of  danger  from  the  Indians, 
were  begun  a  few  years  prior  to  1739.  The  names  of  these  earliest 
pioneers  were  (according  to  various  traditions)  Capt.  Thomas  Mor- 
ison, Win.  McNee,  John  Taggart,  Win.  Ritchie,  Wm.  Scott,  Win. 
llobbe,  Samuel  Stinson,  Thomas  Cuningham,  Jonathan  Morison, 
Wm.  AVallaee,  Wm.  Mitchell,  and  Hugh  and  Wm.  Gregg;  but  no 
permanent  families  were  established  before  1749,  increasing  to 
some  fifty  families  within  the  next  ten  years.  They  came  from  the 
Scotch-Irish  colonies  that  had  already  been  planted  at  London- 
derry, N.  II.,  and  Lunenburg,  Mass.,  and  they  were  not  altogether 
.strangers  to  each  other. 

In  the  summer  of  1718,  five  ships  with  a  hundred  or  more  emi- 
grant families  came  over  from  the  north  of  Ireland  to  Boston ; 
some  of  them  found  their  way  to  Worcester  and  thence  to  Palmer. 
Pel  ham,  Coleraine,  and  other  towns  in  Massachusetts;  a  large  num- 
ber under  the  lead  of  the  Rev.  John  Morehead  founded  the  Feder- 
al Street  Church  in  Boston;  and  one  ship  with  some  twenty  fami- 
lies, sailing  for  the  Merrimac  late  in  autumn,  was  driven  into  Cas- 
<;o  Bay,  and  was  frozen  in  for  the  winter  at  the  place  which  soon  af- 
terwards became  the  town  of  Portland.  Their  provisions  giving  out, 
they  suffered  some  hardships,  but  found  relief  among  the  inhabi- 
tants there.  Upon  a  petition  addressed  to  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts,  it  was  voted  to  send  them  "100  bushels  of  corn  meal 
at  the  expense  of  the  Treasury."  A  few  families  settled  in  that 
vicinity:  the  rest,  in  the  spring  of  1719,  sailed  up  the  Merrimac 
to  Haverhill,  and  thence  proceeded  to  that  nigh  and  beautiful  re- 
gion of  country  that  was  called  Nutfield,  because  it  abounded  in 


18 

chestnuts,  butternuts,  and  walnuts ;  and  there  they  determined  to 
locate  their  grant  of  twelve  miles  square  of  land.  This  grant  (it 
seems)  had  been  made  by  Gov.  Samuel  Shute,  then  Governor  of 
both  Provinces,  upon  a  petition  signed  in  Ireland,  March  26th, 
1718,  by  217  persons,  all  but  seven  (says  Dr.  Smith)  signing  "in  a 
fair,  legible  hand,"  before  they  set  out  on  their  voyage.  These 
sixteen  first  settlers  and  their  families  that  had  thus  arrived,  on  the 
22d  day  of  April,  1719,  had  come  over  in  company  with  their  pas- 
tor, the  Rev.  James  McGregor,  most  of  them  from  his  Parish  of 
Aghadowey  six  miles  south  of  Coleraine  in  the  County  of  London- 
derry, I.1  Under  a  large  oak  tree  on  the  shore  of  a  bright  sun- 
ny lake  they  joined  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving  for  their  safe  ar- 
rival in  a  land  where  conscience  was  free.  Among  them  were 
Samuel  Allison,  James  Gregg,  James  McKean.  John  Mitchell,  John 
Morison,  Thomas  Steele,  and  John  Stuart.  They  were  soon  joined 
by  a  large  number  of  their  compatriots,  the  lands  were  divided  out 
to  a  long  list  of  grantees,  and  in  1722  the  town  was  incorporated 
by  New  Hampshire  authority  by  the  name  of  Londonderry. 

In  1736  (seventeen  years  later)  another  ship  with  emigrants  from 
the  same  counties  in  Ireland  landed  at  Boston;  these  families 
passed  the  winter  at  Lexington,  and  in  the  next  summer  settled  at 
Lunenberg,  Mass.r  and  other  towns  in  that  vicinity.  Among  them 
were  the  names  Cuningham,  Ferguson,  McNee,  Little,  Robbe, 
Scott,  Smith,  Stuart,  Swan,  White  and  Wilson. 

From  these  colonies  Peterborough  was  first  settled;  but  from 
time  to  time  at  later  dates,  and  especially  after  the  Revolution., 
there  came  also  among  them  other  families,  mostly  of  English  Pu- 
ritan descent,  from  various  other  towns  in  both  Provinces.  These 
families  have  had  an  important  influence  upon  the  affairs  and 
prosperity  of  the  town  in  the  later  times,  but  the  character,  man- 
ners and  faith  of  the  Scotch-Irish  element  largely  prevailed  through- 
out the  whole  first  century. 

At  tl*e  time  when  the  new  Londonderry  was  founded,  descend- 
ants of  the  English  Puritans  from  Massachusetts  liad  settled  along 
the  Merrimac  river  as  far  north  as  the  old  town  of  Dunstable,  or 
even  the  Uncanoonuc  Hills.  Some  jealousies  existed  for  a  time  be- 
tween the  two  sorts  of  people.  At  first,  the  Puritans  hardly  knew 
what  to  make  of  the  new  comers ;  some  mistook  them  for  wild 
Irish.  When  they  started  up  the  Merrinaac  in  boats,  and  one  was 
upset  in  the  rapids,  it  was  said  that 

"They  soon  began  to  scream  and  bawl, 

As  out  they  tumbled  one  and  all, 
And,  if  the  Devil  had  spread  his  net, 

He  could  have  made  a  glorious  haul."" 

(i)     L.  A.  Morrison's  "Rambles  in  Europe,"  Boston,  1887,  p.  54. 


19 

The  proprietors  of  East  Pennacook  (Concord)  refused  to  allow 
them  to  settle  there,  but  they  were  not  excluded  from  the  later 
Suncook  grant  of  1731  to  the  survivors  of  Capt.  Lovewell's  bloody 
tight  with  the  formidable  Paugus.  The  Quaker  poet  "Whittier  1 
in  his  interesting  account  of  the  Londonderry  -'rustic  poet,"  Rob- 
ert Dinsmoor,  gives  a  graphic  description  of  these  people.  They 
seemed  to  combine  (he  says)  "the  austere  Presbyterianism  of  John 
Knox  with  something  of  the  Milesian  wit,  humor  and  jovially  of 
old  Ireland.  They  were  nevertheless  an  industrious,  shrewd,  and 
thriving  community."  They  introduced  the  culture  of  flax  and 
the  potato,  the  little-wheel  and  the  manufacture  of  linens.  They 
soon  had  good  dwellings,  a  commodious  meeting  house,  schools, 
fine  farms  and  orchards,  and  accumulated  wealth  around  them. 
By  1775,  Londonderry  ranked  second  only  to  Portsmouth  in  popu- 
lation. They  were  a  substantial,  cheerful,  and  sociable  sort  of 
folks,  were  not  afraid  of  cider,  nor  indeed  of  a  little  whiskey  upon 
occasion.  The  Puritans  said  of  them  that  they  "held  as  fast  to 
their  pint  of  doctrine  as  to  their  pint  of  rum."  They  soon  had  pos- 
session of  the  fisheries  at  Amoskeag  Falls,  where  they  found  plen- 
ty of  shad  and  salmon,  and  (according  to  the  poetical  Mr.  William 
Stark)— 

"It  was  often  said  that  their  only  care, 
And  their  only  wish,  and  their  only  prayer, 
For  the  present  world  and  the  world  to  come, 
Was  a  string  of  eels  and  a  jug  of  rum." 

They  were  apt  to  be  ready  at  a  stand-up  fight:  when  an  imperti- 
nent fellow  replied  to  the  Rev.  James  McGregor  that  "Nothing 
saved  him  but  his  cloth,"  he  immediately  threw  off1  his  coat  and 
squared  himself  for  action,  saying,  "It  shall  not  protect  you,  sir;" 
whereupon  the  other  thought  best  to  retreat.  They  were  not  slow 
at  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  as  the  names  of  Goffe,  Gregg, 
Moore,  Todd,  Stark,  Cunningham  and  Wilson,  may  bear  witness. 

They  were  fond  of  public  gatherings,  social  parties,  fiddling  and 
dancing,  and  the  eloquence  of  town  meetings.  They  had  retained 
the  old  market-fair,  where  all  sorts  of  persons  annually  congrega- 
ted, gentlemen  and  beggars,  horse-jockies,  peddlers,  wrestlers, 
gay  young  farmers  and  buxom  lasses,  in  riotous  merry-making — "a 
sort  of  Protestant  carnival  (thinks  Whittier)  relaxing  thcgrimness 
of  Puritanism  for  leagues  around." 

This  little  colony  of  ours  had  planted  itself  on  the  very  frontier 
of  these  French  and  Indian  wars  (1744-176'}),  and  of  course  they 
had  to  be  as  skillful  with  their  muskets  as  with  their  axes  or  their 
scythes.  The  earlier  accounts  are  somewhat  meagre,  but  records 
show  that  in  1750,  the  proprietors  voted  to  send  10  Ibs.  of  powder, 
and  20  Ibs  of  lead,  and  in  1754,  one  £  bbl.  of  powder,  100  Ibs.  of 
lead,  and  200  flints  to  Alexander  Scott  for  the  use  of  the  settlers, 

(i)  Proae  Works,  Boston  1889,  Vol.  II.  p.  251. 


20 

and  before  1760,  the  town  had  sent  thirty-two  men  to  these  wars. 
Of  the  eight  men  enlisted  in  "Rodger's  Rangers,"  six  fell  at  once 
in  an  Indian  ambuscade  near  Lake  George.  Fourteen  lost  their 
lives  in  this  service — "a  great  number  (remarks  Dr.  Smith)  for  so 
small  and  weak  a  settlement."1 

The  first  small  meeting  house  was  built  on  the  hill  in- 1752;  but 
of  the  earliest  society  or  its  ministers,  of  the  first  schools,  or  of 
the  mode  of  conducting  civil  business,  no  records  remain.  They 
probably  managed  their  affairs  in  the  way  that  suited  them  best. 
'  It  was  much  the  same  with  another  portion  of  this  same  emigra- 
tion that  went  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  the  western  part  of 
Chester  Co.,  and  in  the  Cumberland  Valley,  from  1720  to  1750,  of 
whose  first  congregations  no  records  were  preserved.  Simple 
headstones  without  name  or  inscription  marked  the  graves  of  most 
of  them.2  A  few  tottering  stones  in  the  little  cemetery  on  the 
hill  record  the  memoiy  of  most  (not .all)  of  those  who  first  died  in 
this  town.  There  is  something  pathetic  as  well  as  quaint  in  the 
earlier  votings  of  the  incorporated  town  (1760-1766) : — "to  send 
to  Pennsylvane  for  a  gospel  minister,  and  if  any  come  he  shall  be 
treated  like  a  gentleman" ; — "to  lay  the  floor  of  the  meeting  house, 
and  build  plank  seats,  and  glaze  the  windows" ; — "to  communion- 
ate  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morrow  to  send  us  a  minister  from  Ireland,  a 
Calvinist  of  the  Presbyterian  Constitution,  a  preacher  of  the  word 
and  not  a  reader",  promising  £45  salary  and  "a  good  new  beaver 
hat,  if  he  will  accept  it"; — "to  empower  Hugh  Wilson  to  go  to 
Philadelphia,  or  anywhere  else  on  this  continent"  for  a  minister ; 
and  again  "that  Win.  Robbe  have  liberty  to  build  a  seat  for  him- 
self at  the  left  hand  of  the  pulpit,  and  that  he  may  sit  in  it  as  long 
as  he  pleases."  This  AVm.  Robbe  was  no  doubt  a  good  man.  He 
was  a  seventh  son,  and  cured  the  King's  Evil  gratis,  by  his  mere 
touch  and  the  gift  of  a  small  coin  tied  around  the  neck  of  the  suf- 
ferers, who  went  their  way  rejoicing.  It  may  remind  us  of  the 
good  King  Duncan,  as  described  by  Shakespeare : — 

"A  most  miraculous  work  in  this  good  king! 
How  he  solicits  Heaven, 

Himself  but  knows ;  but  strangely-visited  people, 
All  swollen  and  ulcerous,  pitiful  to  the  eye, 
The  mere  despair  of  surgery,  he  cures : 
Hanging  a  golden  stamp  about  their  necks, 
Put  on  with  holy  prayers." 

Some  still  believed  in  ghosts  and  witches,  and  of  course  the 
devil.  Even  as  late  as  when  John  Murray  began  to  preach  univer- 
sal salvation,  a  pious  elderly  lady  declared  he  ought  to  be  arrest- 
ed, for  that  "it  was  a  shame  that  any  vagabond  should  be  allowed 
to  go  about  preaching  that  there  was  na  devil."  Old  black  Baker 

(1)  Smith's  History  of  Peterborough,  Boston,  1876,  p.  145,  350. 

(2)  Kevin's  Churches  qf  the  Valley  (Cumberland),  Philadelphia,  1852,  p.  191. 


21 

saw  him  once  in  person  at  a  fork  of  the  road,  with  horns  and 
cloven  feet,  spitting-  five,  and  offering  him  a  book  to  read,  but  he 
dodged  away  on  the  other  track,  and  ran  for  his  life.  Under  the 
conditions  of  this  early  time,  we  need  not  much  wonder  that 
when  the  admission  of  a  new  member  to  the  Church  was  in  ques- 
tion, and  objection  was  raised  that  he  made  too  free  use  of  the 
bottle,  "Well,"  said  a  grave  elder,  "if  the  Lord  maun  hae  a  church 
in  Peterborough,  he  maun  ee'n  take  such  as  there  be." 

But  we  are  not  to  make  too  large  an  inference  from  such  anec- 
dotes. These  men  belonged,  in  the  old  country,  neither  to  the  i 
higher  gentry,  nor  to  the  lower  sort  of  people,  but  to  the  middle 
class  of  substantial  farmers  and  tradesmen.  Some  of  them  had 
considerable  education,  most  of  them  had  property,  and  were  men 
of  good  ability  and  strong  character.  They  possessed  the  energy, 
the  faith  and  cheerful  nature  that  could  make  life  endurable  under 
the  hardships  and  privations  of  their  actual  situation  on  the  fron- 
tiers of  civilized  society.  They  had  brought  with  them  the  man- 
ners, customs,  and  habits  of  the  Scotland  and  Ireland  of  the  sev- 
enteenth and  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century.  I  need  not  re- 
peat examples  of  their  quaint  humor  and  queer  stories,  nor  of 
their  free  use  of  ardent  spirits  on  all  public  occasions,  house-rais- 
ings, trainings,  dancing  parties,  weddings  and  funerals,  whereof 
you  have  doubtless  already  heard  enough ;  you  may  find  them  par- 
alleled in  the  descriptions  of  the  Scottish  poet,  Robert  Ferguson, 
or  of  John  Ramsay  of  Ochtertyre,  in  the  poems  of  Burns,  or  in 
the  more  recent  "Reminiscences  of  Scottish  Life,"  by  Dr.  E.  B. 
Ramsay,  Dean  of  Edinburgh. 

At  this  early  period,  the  roads  ran  along  the  higher  plateaus, 
and  over  the  highest  hills;  not  one  ran  along  the  rivers.  The  main 
road  came  down  from  the  East  Mountain  Pass  by  Cunningham's 
Pond  to  the  "Street"  (so  called)  at  Wilson's  Tavern;  at  a  later 
date,  a  branch  ran  northward  along  the  base  of  the  ridge  by  Capt. 
Samuel  Cunningham's  and  thence  down  to  the  "Street"  at  Gor- 
don's Corner.  The  meeting  house,  at  first  a  rough  series  of  addi- 
tions, was  built  on  the  highest  hill  near  the  centre  of  the  town, 
and  was  replaced  at  a  later  day  by  a  huge  barnlike  edifice  (not  fin- 
ished until  1784),  without  steeple  or  tower,  without  paint,  and 
without  fire  to  warm  it  in  the  coldest  winter;  like  Dante  in  the 
14th  century,  they  had  to  keep  warm  by  imagining  an  extreme 
contrast  of  opposites.  From  this  sightly  elevation,  the  later  white 
steeples  of  Hancock  (Jattrey,  until  1823,  had  none)  and  of  course 
Dublin,  situated  in  a  pass  of  the  western  ridge,  just  under  the  lofty 
peak  of  the  Grand  Monadnoc  (which  had  to  be  abandoned  in  the 
winter),  were  distinctly  visible.  It  was  said  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Sprague  of  Dublin  that  when  he  came  to  that  point  in  his  sermon 
which  spoke  of  faith  moving  mountains,  he  stopped  short,  and 
looking  a  moment  at  the  Monadnoc,  added  a  doubt  whether  the 


22 

scripture  could  apply  to  that  mountain.  When  a  bass  viol  was 
first  introduced  hen-  to  help  out  the  singing,  Matthew  Templeton, 
good  pious  soul,  bolted  straight  home,  declaring  it  was  no  better 
than  worshipping  Dagon,  but  when  he  went  down  to  Greenfield, 
and  found  that  they  had  a  yoon  there  (which  Dr.  Smith  supposes 
to  have  been  a  bas>oon),  he  turned  back  home  and  gave  it  up.  A 
pagoda-like  sounding  board  hung  over  the  pulpit  from  the  high 
ceiling  above  by  a  twisted  iron  rod;  that  it  did  not  break  and  fall 
on  the  minister's  head,  undoubtedly  had  the  good  effect  of  inspir- 
ing the  young  with  an  unfailing  trust  in  Providence.  Of  the  sage 
assemblies  of  old  and  young  under  the  beech  trees  at  noon  time,  at 
which  all  human  affairs  were  ably  discussed  by  the  wiser  heads, 
you  have  doubtless  heard  already ;  and  it  is  curious  to  read  in 
John  Ramsay1  that  not  long  before  his  day,  it  was  the  custom  in 
the  Highlands  on  a  Sunday  (or  when  there  was  no  sermon)  for  the 
people  to  assemble  in  their  best  clothes  on  the  sunny  side  of  a  hill, 
from  the  chief  men  to  their  humblest  followers,  to  talk  over  their 
traditions  and  genealogies,  which  memory  preserved  with  a  pre- 
cision not  inferior  to  that  of  the  Jews  of  old ;  the  older  men  com- 
municating to  the  rising  generation  the  wisdom  and  knowledge 
which  they  had  acquired  or  received  from  their  fathers. 

Scarcely  less  primitive  were  the  conditions  heve,  at  these  early 
dates.  In  1754,  the  proprietors  voted  "that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harvey 
should  have  a  gun  for  his  use  as  long  as  he  was  an  inhabitant." 
Probably  no  man  was  safe  then  without  a  gun  near  at  hand.  They 
had  only  occasional  preachers  before  1766,  when  the  Rev.  John 
Morison  (who  came  from  Scotland,  a  graduate  of  the  University 
of  Edinburgh  in  1765)  became  the  first  settled  minister.  He  was 
to  have  100  acres  of  land  if  he  continued  seven  years,  and 
was  dismissed  in  1772.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  learn- 
ing and  ability,  but  he  seems  not  to  have  given  entire  satisfaction 
to  his  people,  being  charged  at  last  with  the  "gravest  immoralities." 
He  joined  the  army  at  Cambridge,  and  went  over  to  the  British  in 
Boston,  after  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  died  in  Charlestown, 
S.  C.,  in  1782. 

The  next  settled  minister  was  the  Rev.  David  Annan.  He  came 
from  Scotland  (under  the  auspices  of  his  older  brother  Robert)  at 
the  age  of  eighteen,2  finished  his  education  at  Rutger's  College, 
New  Jersey,  and  was  ordained  at  Wallkill  for  the  ministry  at 
Peterborough,  in  1778;  but  he  had  preached  here  before  that  date. 
In  that  year,  Wm.  Smith,  Samuel  Moorej  Wm.  McNee,  and  Samuel 
Mitchell,  were  consecrated  elders  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Annan,  then 
of  the  Federal  Street  Church  in  Boston,  where  he  was  the  succes- 
sor of  the  Rev.  John  Morehead  already  mentioned ;  and  he  was  suc- 

(1)  Scotland  and  Scotsmen  of  the  18th  Century,  London,  1888,  Vol.  II,  p.  407. 

(2)  I  have  in  my  possession  a  copy  of  John  Mair's  Latin  and  English  Sallust,  Edinb.,  1756, 
in  which  his  name  is  written  of  the  date  of  1769,  when  he  was  fifteen  years  old. 


23 

ceeded  there,  in  1786,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jeremy  Belknap,  the  historian 
of  New  Hampshire,  whose  doctrine  closely  verged  on  Unitarian- 
ism  ;  and  his  successor  there  was  the  celebrated  Dr.  Channing. 

Upon  his  settlement,  he  received  100  acres  of  wild  land  in  the 
Gridley  tract  on  the  old  road  to  Dublin  and  £65  salary ;  and  in 
1781,  the  town  voted  to  "clear,  seed,  and  fence  ten  acres  of  land" 
for  their  minister.  It  appears  that  about  seven  years  later,  some 
trouble  about  "seeding  with  rye  and  grass  and  fencing"  was  set- 
tled by  compromise ;  and  at  length  there  began  to  be  complaint 
about  his  "administration  of  the  gospel,"  and  he  was  dismissed  at 
his  own  request  in  1792.  After  preaching  a  few  years  at  Chester, 
he  was  finally  deposed  from  the  ministry  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Londonderry,  in  1800.  In  the  next  year  he  visited  Scotland,  and  died 
in  Ireland  in  1802,  but  exactly  where  or  under  what  circumstan- 
ces, his  family  in  this  country  seem  never  to  have  known.  A  grow- 
ing habit  of  intemperance  destroyed  the  usefulness  of  his  later 
years.  In  the  hands  of  a  later  owner,  the  old  farm-house  has  giv- 
en place  to  the  modern  residence  in  which  Mr.  Levi  Cross  now 
lives.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  good  attainments,  of  more 
than  common  endowments,  and  a  ready  speaker,  stern  and  austere, 
but  easily  pleased,  and  if  opposed,  haughty  and  overbearing. 
Many  stories  are  told  of  him,  which  I  need  not  repeat.  One  tra- 
dition says  that  he  made  a  fiddle  with  his  jackknife,  and  would  sit 
with  his  bible  open  before  him  and  his  inspiriting  glass  standing 
by,  and  (as  we  may  suppose),  for  want  of  better  music  in  his  soul, 
would  play  tunes  for  the  children  to  dance.  While  preaching  at 
Chester,  his  good  parishioners  were  not  a  little  shocked  when  they 
heard  of  his  saying  that  "he  had  prayed  over  one  bed  of  onions 
and  fiddled  over  another,  to  see  which  would  fare  the  best" : — l  the 
result  of  the  experiment  was  not  reported. 

The  Rev.  Elijah  Dunbar,  a  native  of  Canton,  Mass.,  but  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1794,  was  ordained 
his  successor,  Oct.  23d,  1799;  and  with  the  coming  in  of  the  pres- 
ent century,  a  new  era  began  for  both  town  and  church — for  the 
industrial,  educational,  social,  and  religious  amelioration  of  the 
people. 

This  Scotch-Irish  emigration  had  corne,  originally,  in  some  part 
•from  the  Highlands,  but  in  greater  part  from  the;  Lowland  coun- 
ties, and  they  were  mostly  of  Anglo-Saxon,  Danish,  or  old  Norse 
derivation.  They  had  colonized  the  six  counties  of  Ulster  in  the 
time  of  James  I.  They  or  their  ancestors  had  suffered  the  utmost 
severities  of  war  and  oppression  in  that  dreadful  period  of  English 
history,  extending  from  the  days  of  Cromwell  to  the  union  of  the 
kingdoms  under  Queen  Anne,  in  which  calamity  fell  heaviest  on 
Scotland  and  Ireland.  Within  it  occurred  the  serious  troubles 
with  the  Catholics  in  Ireland,  the  terrible  persecutions  of  the  Cam- 


L  (i)     Chase's  Higtary  of  Old  Chester,  Auburn,  N.  H.,  1869,  pp.  159,  330. 


24 

oronian  Presbyterians  in  Scotland  under  Charles  II.,  in  which  the 
people  were  driven  from  their  churches,  and  peaceful  meetings 
were  hunted  out  of  the  fields  and  woods  with  fire  and  sword,  and 
good  men  were  ruthlessly  slain  because  they  would  not  be  convert- 
ed to  the  English  Church;  the  merciless  war,  devastation  and  fam- 
ine under  James  II.,  from  the  seige  of  Londonderry  to  the  battle  of 
the  Boyne ;  and  the  vindictive  massacre  of  men,  women  and  children 
at  Glencoe  in  1092,  and  other  intolerable  grievances  even  under 
the  Protestant  King  William. 

From  1690  to  1773,  there  was  a  continual  emigration  of  these 
people  to  the  American  colonies;  great  numbers  of  them  took 
refuge  in  Pennsylvania  under  Wm.  Pemi's  liberal  promise  of 
cheap  land  and  freedom  of  conscience.  The  names  of  many  of 
those  who  settled  in  Chester  County,  and  in  the  Cumberland  valley, 
from  1720  to  1750,  strikingly  duplicate  the  New  Hampshire  names 
that  came  from  the  same  counties  in  Ireland  at  the  same  dates. 
I  have  found  among  them  the  familiar  names  of  Allison,  Blair, 
Caldwell,  Cunningham,  Davidson,  Hainill,  Holmes,  Hopkins,  Hun- 
ter, McQlary,  McFarland,  Miller,  Mitchell,  Moore,  Morison,  Ritchie, 
Robbe,  Scott,  Smith,  Steele,  Stuart,  Swan,  Taggart,  Ternpleton, 
Todd,  Turner,  Wallace,  Watts,  Wilson  and  White,  with  a  like  rep- 
etition of  Christian  names  for  many  of  them.1  As  early  as  1736, 
they  began  to  settle  in  the  Cumberland  Valley  west  of  the  Susque- 
hannah,  and  soon  reached  the  western  counties  on  the  Ohio,  and 
thence  entered  the  Shcnandoah  Valley  in  Virginia,  and  even  down 
to  Abingdon,  west  of  the  Alleghanies.  Others  coming  by  way  of 
Charlestown,  S.  C.,  settled  the  upland  valleys  and  plains  of  the 
Yadkin  and  Catawba  in  the  two  Carolinas.  They  threaded  the  passes 
of  the  Alleghanies,  and  established  themselves  on  the  Watauga  and 
theHolston,  head  waters  of  the  Tennessee,  almost  beyond  the  reach 
of  any  cjvil  government  but  their  own.  They  peopled  the  rich 
valley  of  the  Cumberland  in  Tennesee,  and  followed  Daniel  Boon 
into  the  plains  of  Kentucky.  This  Indian  frontier  became  the  scene 
of  the  daring  exploits  of  the  heroic  James  Robertson,  John  Sevier, 
Evan  and  Isaac  Shelby,  Wm.  and  Arthur  Campbell,  Andrew 
Moore,  Robert  Patterson,  Benjamin  Logan,  McGee,  McGarry,  Mc- 
Connell,  John  Todd  and  Geo.  Rogers  Clarke,  and  many  more,  as 
we  may  read  in  the  pathetic  histories  of  those  woeful  times  of  the. 
extension  of  the  United  Colonies  to  the  Mississippi  River. 

After  the  peace  of  1763,  still  more  "Heart  of  Oak"  Presbyterians 
from  the  same  counties  in  Ireland  streamed  into  the  Middle  and 
Southern  Provinces;  other  grievances  were  now  added  to  the 
previous  sufferings,  and  especially  in  Antrim  County,  where,  upon 
the  expiration  of  leases,  rents  were  raised  beyond  their  endurance. 
They  struck  for  a  fee-simple  title  and  absolute  ownership  in  the 


(i)     Futhey  and  Cope's  History  of  Chester  Co.,  Pa.,  Philadelphia,  1881,  pp.  150-187;  Nev- 
in's  Churches  of  the  Valley  (Cumberland),  Philadelphia,  1852. 


25 

soil  on  which  they  were  to  live  and  labor,  and  for  a  land  where 
conscience,  too,  was  free.  In  Pennsylvania  they  soon  balanced  the 
influence  of  the  Quakers.  In  the  Carolinas  they  formed  a  larger 
part  of  the  valiant  forces  that  under  the  lead  of  Campbell,  Shelby, 
Marion,  Sumter,  and  Gates,  cleared  the  southern  colonies  of  the 
British  and  their  Royalist  adherents,  in  the  first  years  of  the  Revo- 
lution, fighting  with  a  courage  and  patriotic  devotion  that  have  sel- 
dom been  surpassed,  and  have  made  "King's  Mountain"  memora- 
ble in  history.  The  pitiable  afflictions  of  these  frontier  settle- 
ments, during  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tion, were  scarcely  exceeded  by  the  like  barbarities  of  the  Brit- 
ish and  Indians  that  compelled  Gen.  Washington  and  his  small 
armies,  and  also  these  frontier  settlers,  to  fight  the  British  do- 
minion and  power,  both  in  the  civilized  front  and  in  the  savage 
rear  from  Canada  to  Georgia,  and  from  the  Alleghanics  to  the 
Mississippi.1 

In  North  Carolina,  seven  Presbyterian  ministers,  headed  by  the 
Rev.  Alex.  Craighcad,  with  their  people,  were  among  the  brave 
men  that,  in  May,  1775,  adopted  at  Charlotte  the  famous  Mecklen- 
burg Declaration  that  was  (as  it  were)  the  prototype  of  the  Amer- 
ican Declaration  of  Independence.  "Indeed,"  (says  Bancroft) 
"the  first  public  voice  that  was  raised  for  total  independence  of  the 
British  crown  and  Parliament  came,  not  from  the  Puritans  of 
New  England,  nor  from  the  Dutch  of  New  York,  nor  from  the 
planters  of  Virginia,  but  from  the  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians."2 
Not  that  these  others  were  less  steady,  or  not  even  foremost  in  the 
cause  of  liberty,  but  that  these  Scotch-Irish  settlers  had  had  a 
more  recent  and  a  sharper  experience  (or  a  more  vivid  memory) 
of  the  bitter  wrongs  and  oppressions  they  or  their  fathers  before 
them  had  suffered  in  the  land  of  their  origin,  and  were  the  more 
determined  (if  possible)  to  have  freedom,  right,  and  justice  in 
America.  John  Sullivan  of  Durham,  the  chastiser  of  the  hostile 
Iroquois,  descended  from  the  chiefs  of  the  O'Sullivans  of  the  south 
of  Ireland,  was  a  leader  of  the  "Sons  of  Liberty"  that  stormed 
the  British  fort  at  Portsmouth,  in  Dec.  1774,  and  captured  the 
powder  and  lead  that  helped  to  flll  the  horns  and  pouches  of  the 
"minute  men"  of  New  Hampshire  that  stood  by  the  fence  at 
Bunker  Hill  under  Col.  John  Stark  of  the  Londonderry  colony 
from  the  norlh  of  Ireland;  and  as  early  as  the  23d  of  May,  1775, 
an  official  letter  of  the  New  Hampshire  Convention  of  Delegates 
urged  upon  the  Continental  Congress  the  policy  of  declaring  a 
total  independence  of  Great  Britain.3 


d)  Doddridge's  \nlen  rtHtl  fiirliaH  11'nm,  Albany,  1876;  Shaler's  AVn/ic-/.'//,  Boston, 
1885:  Phelan  s  ll'mtora  <]f  Titntegtee,  Boston,  1888;  Roosevelt's  IViiniiny  nftliv  Hrcnt,  vol. 
II.,  New  York,  1889. 

(a)    Ilinlnrfi  of  the  United  Staff*,  v.jl.  V.  64-77,  v0'-  VII.  169,  370-373,  Boston,  1852. 
(3)     McClintock's  History  of  N.  //.,  p.  376. 


26 

AVhen  the  Revolution  begun,  the  town  of  Peterborough,  having 
scarcely  more  than  ,r>00  inhabitants,  was  among  the  first  to  be  wide 
awake  in  freedom's  cause.  As  many  as  sixty  men  were  sent  to 
join  the  forces  at  Cambridge.  Thirty-two  enlisted  in  the  regi- 
ment that  was  raised  in  this  vicinity  by  that  Major  Samuel  Gregg 
who  had  stood  on  the  heights  of  Abraham  under  General  Wolfe 
in  1759,  and  they  marched  with  all  speed,  day  and  night,  arriving 
only  one  day  too  late  for  the  battle  at  Bunker  Hill ;  but  a  consid- 
erable number  of  Peterborough  men  were  there  to  share  in  the 
honor  of  the  day.  Capt.  Wm.  Scott's  company,  was  certainly 
there,  one-half  of  it  attached  to  the  regiment  of  Col.  James  Reed 
of  Rindge,  and  the  other  to  that  of  Col.  John  Stark;  and  Lieut. 
James  Taggart,  Randall  McAlister,  Geo.  McLeod,  Thomas  Green r 
David  Scott,  and  John  Graham  were  wounded,  and  Capt.  Scott 
himself  wounded  and  taken  prisoner1  ;  and  it  is  a  well  authenti- 
cated fact  that  he  laid  on  the  ground  there  all  the  "frosty  night" 
of  the  17th  of  June.  Capt.  John  Taggart  was  also  there,  serving 
as  a  Lieut,  under  Capt.  Isaac  Farwell,  and  on  the  retreat  stopped 
with  his  men  to  take  a  drink  from  their  canteens  and  then  said, 
"Now  boys,  let  us  trust  in  God,  and  take  another  run."  He  died 
July  7th,  1777,  probably  killed  at  the  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga 
on  that  day.2  It  is  authentically  related  also  that  Major  Robert 
Wilson  (who  had  fought  under  Wolfe  at  Quebec)  on  hearing 
news  of  the  intended  march  of  the  British  from  Boston,  started  on 
the  instant  with  his  company,  and  had  reached  Groton  when  he 
heard  the  result  of  the  battles  of  the  19th  of  April.  These  were 
minute  men,  but  (as  tradition  says)  a  rather  motley  set  of  soldiers, 
— not  so  bad  as  that  ragged  regiment  with  which  Sir  John  Fallstaff 
would  not  march  through  Coventry, — but  some  had  heavy  old 
Queen's  arms,  some  light  French  fusees,  some  pitchforks,  some 
shilalahs,  and  Tom  McCoy  took  his  flail,  declaring  he  would  thrash 
the  British  if  he  could  get  near  enough, — like  Spenser's  hero,  Ta- 
lus,— 

"a  man  of  iron  mould, 

Who  in  his  hand  an  iron  flail  did  hold, 

Wherewith  he  thresh'd  out  falsehood,  and  did  truth  unfold.'7 

The  story  of  Captain  William  Scott  is  quite  famous.  After 
escaping  from  the  British  at  Halifax,  he  joined  the  army  at  Fort 
Washington,  and  barely  escaped  being  a  prisoner  again  by 
swimming  the  Hudson  river.  He  was  wounded  again  at  Sarato- 
ga, gallantly  rescued  a  drowning  family  in  the  harbor  of  New 
York,  and  was  in  Rhode  Island  under  Sullivan,  serving  with  his 
two  sons  through  the  war.  * 

t.\ 

(1)  McCIintock's  History  of  New  Hampshire,  Boston,  1888,  pp.  334,  335:  Smith's  Ui»to- 
ry  of  Peterborough,  p.  157. 

(2)  Kidder's  Hi»f.  of  the  \»t  N.  H.  Regiment,  Albany,  1868,  p.  129. 


27 

Capt.  Samuel  Cunningham,  one  of  the  two  that  escaped  the  In- 
dian massacre  near  Lake  George,  and  one  of  those  that  rallied  for 
Lexington  in  1775,  commanded  a  company  at  Bennington  under 
Stark,  and  finding  himself  in  another  ambuscade  of  Indians  and 
Tories  there,  he  called  out  in  a  loud  voice,  "Bring  up  500  men  on 
their  flank!"  Whereupon,  Tories,  Indians  and  all,  took  to  their 
heels,  leaving  arms  and  baggage  behind.  Here  it  was  that  the 
young  Jeremiah  Smith  (who  was  with  Capt.  Cunningham  as  his 
servant)  had  the  honor  of  being  wounded.  Major  Robert  Wilson 
was  also  in  the  battle,  and  was  sent  to  Boston  in  charge  of  some 
600  Hessian  prisoners. 

Col.  Andrew  Todd,  the  famous  French  and  Indian  fighter  of 
Londonderry  (who  resided  in  this  town  in  his  latter  days),  said  to 
his  grandsons,  about  starting  for  Bennington,  "Never  turn  your 
backs  on  the  enemies  of  your  country."  John  Todd,  Senior,  of  this 
town  (who  was  one  of  them),  himself  full  six  feet  tall,  is  report- 
ed to  have  said  when  he  got  home  that  he  had  met  Hessians  there 
(more  probably  Brunswickers)  "seven  feet  high!" 

Not  many  men  were  required  from  this  town  in  the  war  of  1812 ; 
but  twenty-three  answered  a  call  for  the  defense  of  Portsmouth; 
and  Peterborough  had  the  honor  of  furnishing  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  and  efficient  officers  of  that  war  in  the  person  of  Gen. 
James  Miller. 

On  the  late  war  in  defense  of  the  national  flag,  and  on  the  part 
taken  in  it  by  this  town,  there  is  less  need  that  I  should  dwell  upon 
this  occasion,  since  the  memory  of  it  must  be  still  fresh  in  your 
minds.  I  find  it  recorded  that  this  town  furnished  as  many  as 
209  men  to  the  2d,  6th,  13th  and  other  N,  H.  regiments  during  that 
terrible  conflict.  No  one  who  reads  of  the  losses  of  these  regi- 
ments in  killed  and  wounded  in  the  many  battles  in  wliich  they 
were  engaged  will  doubt,  and  I  may  safely  say  it  is  certain,  that 
this  latest  generation  had  not  forgotten  nor  lost  sight  of  the  glori- 
ous examples  of  courage  and  devotion  that  had  been  left  them  by 
their  ancestors  and  forerunners.  The  Soldiers'  Monument,  erect- 
ed by  the  people  to  the  memory  of  their  townsmen  who  fell,  or 
lost  their  lives  in  the  service,  records  forty-five  names,  and  among 
them  four  commissioned  officers,  Capt.  Gustavus  A.  Forbush, 
Lieut.  Timothy  K.  Ames,  Lieut.  Charles  L.  Fuller,  and  Lieut. 
John  M.  Dodd,  and  also  two  women,  Sophia,  wife  of  Lieut.  Col. 
Charles  Scott,  and  Katie,  wife  of  Capt.  John  A.  Cummings;  for 
the  other  sex  was  not  wanting  in  sympathy  and  help  even  at  the 
seat  of  war: — a  generous  tribute  to  the  patriotic  men  and  women 
who  sacrificed  their  lives  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  for  the  good 
of  the  nation!  May  it  be  an  example,  and  an  inspiration,  to  the 
latest  generation  that  shall  come  after  us.  In  no  nobler  cause 
could  they  have  fallen  than  that  of  maintaining  and  perpetuating 
the  most  just,  the  most  truly  free,  and  on  the  whole  the  best  gov- 


28 

en  1 1  nc  1 1 1  the  world  has  seen ;  a  government  which  is  grounded,  and 
only  can  be  grounded,  on  the  intelligence,  partriotism  and  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  of  the  people  who  made  it,  or  were  born  un- 
der it,  or  were  sworn  to  adopt  it,  and  alone  can  uphold  it,  if  it  is 
to  stand  firm  on  its  own  foundations  of  right,  law  and  liberty,  and 
of  which  the  prime  and  supreme  object  is  to  establish,  secure,  and 
defend  the  just  civil  rights  and  liberties  of  all  who  live  under  it, 
in  due  line  of  order,  degree,  and  authentic  place  in  the  whole  civil 
frame  and  social  organization  of  the  republic. 

Those  that  returned  from  the  war  were  nearly  as  five  to  one. 
How  many  of  them  still  survive  as  worthy  citizens  of  the  town,  I 
have  no  means  of  knowing  exactly.  Some  few  of  them  I  know 
and  take  pleasure  in  alluding  to  that  far  descended  Scotch-Irish 
line  of  Scotts,  which  produced  (in  Lieut.  Col.  Charles  Scott)  a 
worthy  represntativc  of  his  martial  ancestors,  both  in  respect  of  his 
military  service  in  the  late  war,  and  of  the  important  civil  posi- 
tions he  has  held  (one  of  them  being  that  of  High  Sheriff  of  the 
County  for  eighteen  years) ,  since  the  war ;  and  also  to  that  branch 
of  the  large  family  of  Whites,  which  was  descended  from  Patrick 
White,  who  had  three  sons  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  found  a 
fitting  representative  in  that  young  scion,  who  came  out  of  the 
cavalry  service  with  a  lieutenant's  commission,  and  has  since  risen 
to  high  distinctions  for  military  skill  as  a  Brigadier  General  of  the 
New  Hampshire  militia,  and  now  holds  a  respectable  rank  in  the 
legal  profession  of  his  native  town  and  county  (Gen.  D.  M. 
White),  and  is  at  present  a  U.  S.  consul  in  Canada. 

The  Scotch-Irish  settlers  brought  with  them  the  culture  of  flax 
and  the  little-wheel.  Linens  and  woolens  had  been  manufactured 
in  the  north  of  Ireland  for  three  centuries  or  more;  but  in  1699r 
certain  French  Huguenots,  headed  by  Louis  Crommlin,  the  invent- 
or of  the  little-wheel,  introduced  that  valuable  instrument,  "the 
music  of  which  for  a  century  and  a  half  was  the  glory  of  the  small 
farmer's  inglenook."  The  new  Londonderry  soon  became  noted 
far  and  wide  for  its  linens,  and  by  the  legislative  act  of  March  7thr 
1731,  the  busy  town  was  authorized  to  stamp  its  goods  with  a  seal, 
having  the  words  Londonderry,  JV.  //.  engraved  upon  it,  to  mark 
the  superiority  of  their  manufacture.  This  was  the  first  trade- 
mark I  have  read  of  in  the  history  of  American  law.  John  Hop- 
kins purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  for  a  web  of  linen  cloth. 
Madam  Miller,  wife  of  Dea.  Samuel,  made  the  linens  that  paid  for 
the  farms  of  her  four  sons  in  this  town.  The -domestic  manufac- 
ture of  linens  and  woolens  prevailed  almost  universally  throughout 
the  century.  When  the  patriotic  town  of  Boston  was  resisting  Brit- 
ish taxation  in  America,  at  a  certain  anniversary  of  the  "Society 
for  the  Promotion  of  Domestic  Manufactures,"  three  hundred 
women  with  their  little-wheels  sat  in  a  tripple  row  on  Boston  Com- 
mon, busily  spinning  the  flax.  In  the  early  days,  men  were  still 


29 

the  weavers;  but  the  women,  too,  took  an  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  their  country  and  of  their  husbands,  for  they  were  not  merely 
"spinsters,"  but  spinners  and  weavers  both  in  nearly  every  farm- 
house in  the  land. 

The  Hon.  Samuel  Smith,  son  of  Wm.  Smith,  Esq.,  may  be  said 
to  have  been  the  founder  of  this  village,,  and  the  jpionqqv  of, jits 
manufacturing  industries.  As  early  as  1793,  he  began  to  .erect  u 
series  of  all  sorts  of  mills  on  the  site  of  the  present  Phoanix  fap- 
tory.  In  1808-9  was  built  the  first  factory  for  spinning  cotton, 
called  the  "Old  Bell"  because  it  had  a  bell,  and  in  1809-10,  the 
"Old  South"  became  the  second,  and  the  "Old  North"  followed  in 
1813.  The  stockholders  were  nearly  all  citizens  or  sons  of  the 
town,  and  among  them  were  the  names  Ferguson,  Field,  Holmes, 
Miller,  Morison,  Robbe,  Scott,  Smith,  Steele  and  Wilson.  In 
1812,  Samuel  Smith  put  cotton-spinning  into  one  end  of  his  long 
series  of  mills,  and  in  1823,  the  other  end  was  replaced  by  a  large 
brick  cotton-mill  for  both  spinning  and  weaving,  called  the  "Phoe- 
nix," and  it  was  put  in  operation  by  his  son,  Samuel  G.  Smith. 
One  cold  morning  in  December,  1828,  I  saw  two  miles  off  a  col- 
umn of  smoke  ascending  straight  up  into  the  clear  sky,  and  ran, 
all  the  way  to  the  village  to  witness  the  burning  of  the  great  Phoe- 
nix factory: — a  disaster  that  greatly  impaired  the  fortunes  of  its 
principal  owners;  but  other  capitalists  coming  in,  another  Phoenix 
presently  arose  from  its  ashes,  and  was  placed  under  the  superin- 
endencc  of  John  II .  Steclc,  and  subsequently  of  Frederick  (and 
then  of  Jonas)  Livingston,  and  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Wm. 
Ames,  it  still  flourishes  with  wings  spread  as  ever  before. 

Among  the  capitalists  who  have  built  up  and  sustained  the  three 
largest  cotton  mills  of  this  town  from  that  day  to  this,  is  properly 
to  be  named  here  that  able  and  enterprising  merchant  of  Boston, 
the  late  Isaac  Parker,  head  of  the  old  and  wealthy  firm  of  Parker, 
Blanchard,  Wilder  &  Co.,  son  of  the  Hon.  Abel  Parker  of  Jaffrey, 
and  brother  of  Judges  Asa  and  Edmund  Parker,  and  of  that  learned 
jurist,  Chief  Justice  Joel  Parker  of  this  State,  a  remarkable  family 
of  sons,  born  just  over  the  Jaffrey  line  near  the  southwest  corner 
of  Peterborough,  or,  (as  he  said  in  his  interesting  letter  read  at  the 
last  centennial),  "born,  as  it  were,  upon  the  borders  of  the  town, 
and  familiar  with  its  brooks  and  rivers  before  factories  were 
hardly  thought  of."  He  began  his  busy  life  when  a  boy  with  set- 
ting card  teeth  at  home  for  Mr.  Snow  of  Peterborough. 

I  once  asked  my  father  where  he  learned  to  build  machinery. 
"Why,  nowhere,"  said  he,  "a  man  that  can  turn  a  spindle  and 
make  a  little-wheel  can  build  a  whole  cotton  factory."  His  father 
was  a  little-wheel  maker  as  well  as  fanner,  and  his  father  before 
him  had  been  a  Londonderry  weaver  and  fanner.  While  he  and 
his  elder  brother,  Nathaniel  Holmes,  Jr.,  were  building  the  ma- 
chinery of  the  South  Factory,  there  came  one  day  to  the  shop  a 


30 

young  man  from  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  seeking  employment,  and  lie 
was  taken  in.  His  father  had  emigrated  to  that  place  from  the 
north  of  Ireland,  and  died  leaving  his  son  a  poor  orphan  boy.  He 
had  heard  of  the  Yankee  town  from  Nathaniel  Morison  while  en- 
gaged for  a  time  in  the  making  of  carriages  in  that  State,  and  who 
had  employed  and  befriended  him.  This  was  John  H.  Steele.  He 
became  an  expert  machinist,  and  built  the  first  looms  of  the  "Old 
Bell"  factory,  which  were  set  running  in  May,  1818.  This  was  the 
first  cotton-factory  but  one  (that  of  Benj.  Prichard  at  New  Ips- 
wich in  1803),  and  these  were  the  first  power  looms  built  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire.  He  had  great  difficulties  to  overcome. 
His  models  came  from  Slater's  mills  in  Rhode  Island,  or  possibly 
from  Waltham,  Mass.  No  regulator  of  speed  had  then  been  in- 
vented. He  told  the  story  himself  that  while  he  was  puttering  and 
contriving  for  three  days  or  more  to  get  his  loom  into  working 
order,  a  boy  standing  by  said  to  his  little  sister,  "What  is  Mr. 
Steele  doing  there?"  "Why?"  she  asked.  "Because,"  said  the 
boy,  "it  sometimes  looks  like  cloth  and  sometimes  like  harness." 
His  friend  John  Smith,  Esq.,  had  said  to  him,  "Steele,  Steele,  you 
booby,  why  don't  you  try."  Nathaniel  Holmes,  Jr.,  built  the 
machinery  of  the  first  cotton  mill  at  East  Jaffrey,  with  Artemas 
Lawrence,  then  the  Avery  cotton-mill  at  Meredith  Bridge  (now 
Laconia),  and  then  another  of  his  own  at  Sanbornton  Bridge  (now 
Tilton).  Samuel  Holmes,  with  his  younger  brothers  Enos  and 
John,  built  a  cotton-factory  for  spinning  and  weaving  and  a 
machine  shop  at  Springfield,  Vt.,  in  1822-23,  and  a  newer  mill  on 
the  same  water  power  still  makes  satinet  warps  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Henry  B.  Holmes,  a  grandson  of  John.  I  scarcely  need  add 
that  John  H.  Steele  built  the  first  Union  cotton-mill  in  West  Pe- 
terborough, in  which  he  was  an  owner,  and  for  many  years  the 
prosperous  superintendent;  and  he  became  an  influential  citizen 
in  the  town  affairs,  and  was  a  representative  in  the  legislature,  a 
councillor,  and  twice  the  governor  of  the  State.  In  his  later  days, 
he  lived  a  near  neighbor  to  my  father  in  the  village,  and  they  often 
sat  together,  talking  over  the  events  of  their  earlier  days,  and  dis- 
cussing the  politics  of  the  nation.  They  belonged  to  the  old  Jef- 
fersonian  school  of  political  ideas,  and  found  it  difficult  to  recon- 
cile themselves  to  the  fearful  catastrophe  of  civil  war,  until  an  in- 
evitable necessity  had  forced  it  upon  them,  and  they  lived  to  see 
the  constitution  preserved. 

The  first  looms  of  the  Phoenix  factory  were  built  under  the  di- 
rection of  John  and  Robert  Annan,  sons  of  the  Rev.  David  An- 
nan, in  1822;  and  the  machinery  of  the  Union  cotton-mill  No.  2, 
was  built  under  the  supervision  of  Josiah  S.  Morison,  a  grand- 
son of  Dea.  Robert  Morison,  and  a  skillful  machinist;  and  it  was 
put  in  operation  under  the  superintendence  of  Frederick  Living- 
ston, in  1858.  The  two  Livingstons,  Frederick  born  in  Townsend, 


31 

Mass.,  and  Jonas,  born  in  Sharon  (once  a  part  of  ' 'Peterborough 
Slip"),  sons  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Saunders)  Livingston  (who 
came  over,  the  one  directly  from  Scotland,  and  the  other  from  the 
north  of  Ireland),  were  endowed  by  nature  with  ability,  in- 
sight and  prudence,  were  educated  here  in  all  mechanical  skill, 
persevering  industry,  and  a  wise  economy  of  business,  and  may 
be  said  to  have  been  fit  and  worthy  successors  of  Samuel  Smith 
and  John  H.  Steele  in  the  management  and  development  of  the 
manufacturing  interests  and  financial  prosperity  of  the  town  in 
common  with  their  own.  The  stately  form  of  Frederick  Living- 
ston, sound  in  body  and  mind  at  the  green  old  age  of  88  years,  is 
still  visible  among  us,  if  not  exactly  the  last  tree  in  the  deluge  of 
time,  yet  the  compeer  of  the  earlier  men  who  have  departed,  and  an 
example  to  the  younger  who  are  still  coming  on. 

There  were  and  still  are  other  active  and  able  men  in  these  indus- 
tries, not  to  be  overlooked,  though  I  can  but  name  some  few  of 
them :  these  were  (after  Nathaniel  Morison,  sometime  proprietor 
of  the  South  factory,  who  died  while  yet  a  young  man),  Stephen 
Felt,  who  put  looms  into  the  North  factory  in  1823,  and  was  for  some 
years  also  proprietor  of  the  South  factory,  and  his  son,  Granville 
P.  Felt,  for  many  years  (and  until  fire  and  other  calamity  overtook 
him)  an  extensive  builder  of  machinery  of  all  kinds;  then  there 
was  the  old  "Eagle"  factory  of  Daniel  Abbot,  Thomas  Baker,  and 
Joseph  and  Abisha  Tubbs  (now  replaced  by  another),  and  their  suc- 
cessors, Moore  &  Colby,  or  William  Moore,  for  many  years  a  pros- 
perous builder  of  machinery  and  a  substantial  citizen ;  the  several 
saw  and  grist  mills  from  that  of  Jonathan  Morison  in  1751,  of 
Benj.  Chamberlain,  Asa  Davis,  Abraham  Holmes  and  others,  down 
to  the  large  new  flouring  mill  of  Walbridge  &  Taylor;  and  then 
the  paper  makers,  the  Smiths,  A.  P.  Morrison,  and  the  Cheneys ; 
the  woolen  mills  of  Wm.  Powers,  Thomas  Wilson,  and  Henry  F. 
Cogswell  and  his  successors,  the  Noones,  father  and  sons,  exten- 
sive manufacturers  of  woolens  down  to  this  time;  the  peg  mill  of 
Mark  Wilder,  for  some  time  a  large  business  in  small  things,  and 
now  the  big  shoe  factory  of  Mr.  C.  A.  Coffin,  or  I  hardly  know 
whom : — factories  of  all  sorts,  cards,  baskets,  piano  stools,  hair 
dyes,  and  finally  Brennan's  marbles  that  the  memories  of  the  dead 
may  be  fitly  recorded: — and  indeed  if  I  were  to  include  all  the 
mercantile  and  professional  avocations,  saying  nothing  of  the  ag- 
ricultural, a  greater  variety  than  I  could  enumerate,  unless  the  sun 
were  to  stand  still  for  a  while. 

The  old  "South"  has  disappeared  from  the  face  of  the  earth, 
gone  up  in  fire,  and  no  phoenix  to  rise  from  its  ashes.  The  old 
"North"  has  lost  its  ancient  cunning,  but  has  gained  a  new  one, 
and  now  sends  out  thermometers  and  barometers  all  over  the 
country  under  the  magic  hand  of  Charles  Wilder,  son  of  Mark. 
The  old  "Bell"  has  survived  its  function  of  spinning  and  weaving, 


32 

its  groat  wntcr  power  having  been  converted  to  the  transforming  of 
wood  into  paper,  and  the  last  thing  I  heard  of  it  was  that  when  it 
became  known  that  its  enterprising  owner  was  going  to  make  wa- 
ter pails  out  of  paper,  some  great  Western  Trust  Company  gobbled 
up  the  whole  concern,  and  shut  down  its  gates. 

The  days  of  domestic  manufactures  seem  to  have  departed.  Even 
at  the  last  centennial,  several  speakers  (complimenting  the  ladies), 
warned  them  to  beware  of  flatterers  and  imitate  the  virtues  of  their 
mothers,  if  not  of  their  grandmothers,  who  had  few  luxuries,  did 
their  own  work,  and  heard  little  othcrmnsic  than  that  of  the  wheel  or 
loom,  but  were  (said  Gen.  John  Stcelc, marshal  of  the  day),  honest, 
wise  and  virtuous,  and  if  they  ever  indulged  in  a  song,  it  was  sure 
to  be  the  old  "Battle  of  the  Boyne."  We  are  not  to  imagine,  how- 
ever, that  there  were  no  sports  or  pleasures  in  those  days;  for  it 
was  also  said  that  when  the  minister  chided  the  young  men  and 
women  for  dancing  together,  the  elderly  Mrs.  Gordon  (ono  of  the 
strictest  Presbyterian  sect)  rather  snappishly  remarked,  "Let  the 
minister  take  his  dram  out  of  his  own  bottle,  play  his  own  fiddle, 
and  leave  the  young  people  to  their  innocent  amusements/'  Sam- 
uel'Appleton,  a  native  of  New  Ipswich  and  a  wealthy  mcrchant- 
manirfrtcturcr  of  Boston,  sent  in  his  toast  to  the  ladies:  that  where- 
as "the  matrons  of  the  olden  time,  as  in  the  days  of  King  Solomon, 
laid  their  hands  to  the  spindle  and  distaff,  spun  and  wove  by  their 
own  firesides,  and  clothed  themselves  and  families  in  homespun, 
now,  their  granddaughters,  merely  watching  the  spinning-jenny 
and  the  loom,  clothe  themselves  in  silks,  and  fare  sumptuously  ev- 
ery day."  I  am  afraid,  however,  that  the  ladies  of  our  time  may 
suspect  that  all  the  truth  lies  in  the  first  proposition,  and  all  the 
poetry  in  the  last.  When  I  look  at  these  great  cotton-mills,  I  am 
reminded  of  the  pictures  of  royal  palaces  in  the  midst  of  orna- 
mental grounds  and  gardens ;  they  look  very  well  on  the  outside. 
Sure  enough,  the  domestic  wheels  are  gone.  Dr.  Smith  thus  sang 
his  sad  requiem  over  them:  "Little-wheel  and  great-wheel,  wheel- 
head  and  wheel-pin,  distaff,  quills  and  quill-wheel,  hatche),  swifts, 
and  clock-reel,  cards,  spools,  and  warping-bars,  reeds,  harness, 
loom — all,  all  have  long  since  gone  to  the  attic,  or  banishment  from 
all  our  households;  the  buzz  of  the  little-wheel,  the  whirr  of  the 
great-wheel,  and  the  constant  click  of  the  loom  are  heard  no  more." 
True  enough — and  perhaps  the  sewing-machine  will  go  next;  but 
what  has  become  of  them?  Why  they  are  all  hived  up  into  these 
same  royal  palaces  aforesaid,  to  be  whirled  by  water,  by  steam,  or 
by  electric  power.  Does  anyone  ask  how  then  arc  people  to  live? 
Live!  Why,  bless  your  soul,  you  arc  to  live  on  nectar  and  ambro- 
sia, like  the  gods  and  godcsscs  of  the  golden  age,  and  dress  in 
robes  of  celestial  moonshine. 

By  the  end  of  the  first  century  considerable  changes  had  taken 
place.    When  the  men  of  the  second  and  third  generations  had 


33 

come  upon  the  stage,  knowledge  and  book  learning  were  more  dif- 
fused. Newspapers  and  new  ideas  were  afloat  in  the  air.  The 
leaders  of  the  congregation  were  becoming  wiser  than  their  minis- 
ters. Congregationalists  of  Puritan  descent  had  become  more  nu- 
merous, and  a  new  era  came  in  with  the  new  century  and  the  set- 
tlement of  the  Rev.  Elijah  Dunbar,  a  Congregationalist;  but  a 
large  part  of  the  people  still  preferred  the  Presbyterian  forms. 
The  difficulties  were  not  easily  to  be  reconciled,  but  a  satisfactory 
arrangement  was  made  that  the  Presbyterians  should  have  the 
Lord's  supper  administered  after  their  own  manner,  one  Sunday 
in  each  year,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Morison  of  the  Londonderry 
Presbytery  officiated  in  this  until  his  death  in  1818.  It  was  object- 
ed by  some  that  Mr.  Dunbar  was  an  Arminian.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Sprague  of  Dublin  assisted  at  his  ordination.  Several  leading  men 
of  the  congregation  waited  on  him  to  know  what  they  should  do 
with  this  Mr.  Dunbar.  "What's  the  matter?"  asked  Mr.  Sprague. 
"Why,"  said  they,  "he  preaches  nothing  but  works,  works, 
works."  "Oh,  is  that  all,"  said  he  of  Dublin,  "then  you  will  never 
be  hurt,  for  no  people  need  such  preaching  more  than  you  of 
Peterborough."  When  the  church  in  Nashua  proposed  to  settle 
the  Rev.  Elias  Smith,  in  1757,  many  objected  and  said,  "he  is  not 
of  our  persuasion,  but  favors  the  Arminian  scheme,  which  (as  we 
judge)  tends  to  pervert  the  gospels  and  darken  the  counsels  of 
God."  In  half  a  century  more  much  progress  had  been  made.  In 
1820,  Mr.  Dunbar,  with  his  deacons  Smith  and  Holmes  as  dele- 
gates, took  part  in  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Leonard,  a  Uni- 
tarian, at  Dublin  as  the  successor  of  Mr.  Sprague  who  had  been 
more  of  a  Unitarian  than  a  Calvinist.1  By  the  year  1825  the 
Town-Church  in  Peterborough  came  to  an  end.  The  old  meeting 
house  on  the  hill  had  become  dilapidated,  untenantable,  and  soon 
disappeared  altogether.  The  people  were  separated  into  two  soci- 
eties: one  built  a  new  Presbyterian  Church  at  Gordon's  Corner, 
which  continued  some  years  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Peter 
Holt,  the  other  built  the  fine  Unitarian  church  in  the  village. 
Like  variances  seem  to  have  continued  in  the  Presbyterian  section ; 
their  connection  with  the  Londonderry  Presbytery  soon  came  to 
an  end;  they  took  on  the  more  convenient  Congregational  form, 
and  built  a  new  church  in  the  village,  in  1839;  and  finally  all  prac- 
tical differences  seem  to  have  been  accommodated  in  the  new 
organization  of  the  "Union  Evangelical  Church,"  which  has  now  a 
large  congregation.  Under  whatever  changes,  the  society  has  con- 
tinued to  have  an  important  and  beneficial  influence  on  the  moral, 
social  and  religious  culture  of  the  people.  In  the  language  of  the 
Rev.  George  Dustan,  who  was  for  twenty-five  years  its  able  and 
faithful  pastor,  I  may  say,  "This  people  buildcd  better  than  they 

(i)    Hist,  of  Dublin,  Boston,  1855,  p.  181. 


84 

knew ;  and  the  result  has  proved  that  Scotch-Irish  temperament 
and  heart,  thoroughly  annealed  by  prayer  and  consecrated  com- 
mon sense,  is  good  material  for  a  church,  *  *  and  rarely  has  a 
church  no  larger  than  this  had  so  many  and  so  judicious  men  and 
women  in  Christian  alliance,  *  *  and  kept  abreast  of  the  liberal 
aim  of  the  times."1  The  Presbyterian  Synod,  stretching  over  a 
whole  state,  appears  to  have  been  less  adapted  to  the  civil  and  so- 
cial organization  of  the  towns  of  New  England,  but  it  still  prevails 
extensively  in  the  South  and  West  where  no  such  towns  exist. 

The  Ilev.  Mr.  Dunbar  continued  his  useful  labors  for  twenty- 
seven  years.  He  was  a  man  of  large  stature  and  dignified  pres- 
ence, and  his  sonorous  voice  easily  filled  the  large  house.  In  his 
later  time,  it  began  to  be  seriously  felt  again  among  the  wiser 
heads  that  under  the  pressing  difficulties  of  various  kinds  that  had 
beset  the  course  of  his  own  excellent  life  he  had  fallen  behind  the 
knowledge,  learning  and  advancing  ideas  of  the  growing  time; 
and  in  1827,  the  Rev.  Abiel  Abbot  was  ordained  his  successor  in 
the  newly  organized  " Congregational  Unitarian  Society." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Abbot  was  a  man  of  superior  learning,  ability 
and  character,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1787.  and  his  val- 
uable instruction  was  entirely  acceptable  to  his  people  for  the 
twenty-one  years  of  service  he  was  able  to  render  them,  before  his 
advancing  age  compelled  him  to  retire  in  1848 ;  and  he  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  succession  of  able  and  worthy  men,  for  an  account  of 
whom  I  must  leave  you  to  Dr.  Smith's  "History"  and  your  ow» 
recollection.  The  society  celebrated  its  semi-centennial  year  in 
1876,  at  which  the  discourse  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  M.  J. 
Savage  of  Boston.  Dr.  Abbot  seems  to  have  held  a  high  rank 
among  the  Unitarian  clergy  of  his  day.  In  his  latest  years  (and  he 
died  in  1859  at  the  venerable  age  of  93),  he  resided  with  his  grand- 
son, the  Rev.  Samuel  Abbot  Smith  of  West  Cambridge,  Mass., 
who  united  in  his  name  and  in  himself  the  two  lines  of  Smith  and 
Abbot,  and  was  a  worthy  representative  of  so  notable  an  ancestry ; 
a  man  of  fine  genius  and  generous  nature,  whose  life  was  cut  off 
by  a  too  early  death  in  his  zealous  devotion  to  the  health  and  com- 
fort of  the  citizen  soldiers  at  the  seat  of  war  in  Virginia, 

Other  religious  societies  began  to  be  formed  as  early  as  1824,  for 
an  account  of  which  and  their  beneficial  influence  in  their  several 
spheres  I  must  refer  you  to  history  and  your  own  memories, — 
Methodist,  Baptist,  and  finally  Catholic;  for  even  the  Catholics 
have  also  come  among  you,  glad  to  enjoy  the  blessings  of  freedom 
of  opinion,  conscience,  and  worship,  in  peaceful  community  with  all 
the  rest,  under  a  government  which  secures  to  all  alike  a  just  and 
equal  liberty  under  the  general  law  of  the  land,  and  willing  (I 
trust)  to  participate  in  the  benefits  of  that  general  system  of  com- 


(i)     Historical  Address,  Peterborough,  1888. 


35 

mon  schools,  open  and  free  to  all,  and  maintained  at  the  public  ex- 
pense, the  object  of  which  is,  was,  and  should  be,  to  teach  all  chil- 
dren alike  to  read,  write  and  cipher,  or  those  prime  elements  of 
the  intelligence  and  knowledge  which  must  lie  at  the  foundation  of 
all  free  and  just  government, — that  common  school  system,  whicfe 
is  older  than  the  National  Constitution,  and  which  has  been  grow- 
ing into  the  customs  and  laws  of  the  several  States  for  two  cen- 
turies and  a  half,  and  goes  back  for  its  inception  almost  to  the  very 
first  Colonial  origins. 

Common  schools  have  existed  in  this  town  ever  since  its  incor- 
poration. They  have  grown  to  the  number  of  eleven  districts,  and 
within  the  memory  of  those  now  living,  if  not  now,  they  were  well 
filled  with  boys  and  girls  anywhere  from  five  to  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  The  school  system  was  reorganized  by  the  Legislature  in 
1827,  and  there  is  now  a  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools. 
As  the  population  gravitates  toward  the  central  valleys,  the 
schools  must  needs  follow,  and  if  they  do  not  increase  in  breadth, 
they  may  grow  in  volume  and  height.  An  Academy  for  higher 
branches  was  founded  on  voluntary  gifts  in  1836,  which  seems  not 
to  have  found  an  adequate  patronage;  but  in  1871,  a  High  School, 
more  nearly  answering  the  needs  of  the  immediate  community,  was 
established  by  the  town,  and  is  open  to  all  of  sufficient  qualifica- 
tion. It  has  a  tine  new  building  on  a  sightly  elevation. 

As  early  as  1811,  some  small  libraries  of  limited  use  began  to  be 
collected,  and  in  1833,  a  public  library  was  founded  by  the  town, 
to  be  maintained  out  of  the  town  treasury,  and  be  open  and  free  to 
all.  It  has  received  considerable  additions  from  time  to  time  from 
private  contributions  of  the  citizens,  or  from  the  liberal  donations 
of  sons  of  Peterborough,  who  have  gone  forth  to  other  towns  and 
.states,  and  have  not  forgotten  their  native  place.  This  library  has 
the  credit  of  having  been  the  first  of  the  kind  to  be  established  in 
all  the  United  States.  It  numbers  at  present  about  5000  volames; 
and  now,  surely,  there  can  no  longer  be  excuse  for  ministers  or 
people,  if  they  do  not  keep  up  with  the  knowledge,  science,  literar 
ture  and  progress  of  the  age. 

Of  the  long  roll  of  professional  men  which  such  a  people  and 
such  institutions  could  produce,  or  could  maintain,  whether  natives 
or  strangers,  it  might  be  superfluous,  if  it  were  possible,  for  me  to 
undertake  an  adequate  account.  Dr.  Smith  enumerates  them  all 
down  to  his  time.1  I  can  only  allude  to  some  of  them  as  I  have  occa- 
sion. I  may  remark,  however,  of  the  physicians,  that  it  appears  that 

(t)  The  lawyers  now  in  practice  are  Ezra  M.  Smith,  Daniel  M.  White,  Rilcy  B.  Hatch, 
Frank  G.  Clarke,  and  James  F.  Brennan. 

Physicians  now  In  practice:  Drs.  John  H.  Cutler.  Willard  D.  Chase.  C.  J.  Allen,  F.  A. 
Hodgdon  (Homeopathic),  and  Cyrus  H.  Hay  ward  (Dentist). 

Clergymen:  Rev.  W.  H.  Walbridge,  Unitarian;  Rev.  J.  H.  Hoffman,  Evangelical;  Rev. 
James  A.  Francis,  Baptist;  Rev.  P.  L.  McEvoy  of  Jaffrey,  Catholic;  and  Rev.  Dana  Cotton, 
Methodist. 


36 

nearly  till  of  those  who  were  natives  to  this  town  have  gone  else- 
where to  practice  their  profession,  while  nearly  all  who  have  prac- 
ticed here  for  any  length  of  time  have  come  from  other  places. 
I  ran  hardly  except  Dr.  Albert  Smith,  who  first  went  abroad,  but 
soon  returned  to  practice  here  all  the  rest  of  his  life.  Nor  can  I 
omit  to  mention  our  venerable  fellow  citizen,  Dr.  Daniel  B.  Cut- 
ter, a  descendant  of  one  branch  of  the  numerous  family  of  Jaffrey 
Cutters,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  college,  in  1833,  M.  D.  at  Yale 
in  1835,  who  came  to  this  town  in  1837,  and  has  dilligently  and 
faithfully  practiced  his  profession  here  all  his  life  long  with  the 
respect  and  good  will  of  the  people;  and  if  he  were  not  the  first, 
he  seems  likely  not  to  be  the  last  among  you.  In  1881,  Dr.  Cutter 
published  his  interesting  "History  of  the  Town  of  Jaffrey." 

The  composition  of  the  people  changes  in  more  senses  than  one. 
It  was  estimated  by  Dr.  Smith  that  not  much  more  than  one-sixth 
of  the  inhabitants  were  direct  descendants  of  the  early  settlers. 
He  gave  a  list  of  thirty-seven  influential  families  of  the  century 
before  he  wrote,  in  which  not  a  single  descendant,  bearing  the 
name,  remained  in  the  town,  and  of  forty  more  in  which  but  few 
of  the  name  still  remained  here;  and  he  mentioned  fifteen  of  the 
original  settlers  on  wild  land,  whose  descendants  of  the  name  still 
occupied  the  farms  of  their  forefathers.  And  all  this  was  doubt- 
less so  far  true.  I  have  found  as  many  as  twenty  descendants  still 
living  on  farms  that  were  occupied  by  their  ancestors  more  than  a 
half  century  ago,  three  of  them  with  a  change  of  name.1  Dr. 
Smith  also  observed  that  in  looking  over  the  active  business  men  of 
the  town,  they  seemed  to  be  all  new:  he  does  not  say  they  were 
all  entire  strangers.  No  doubt  some  of  them  were,  and  perhaps 
still  more  are  now  ;  but  we  must  bear  in  mind  that  farms  have  be- 
come more  and  more  a  mei-chantable  commodity,  and  that  the 
mere  names  in  the  tax  list  are  not  a  very  certain  test  of  continu- 
ance ;  for  we  all  know  very  well  that  one  side  of  every  house  al- 
ways shows  a  kind  proclivity  towards  a  change  of  name.  It  is 
certain  that  if  you  take  the  known  descendants  (wherever  they 
are)  of  the  older  families,  and  trace  them  back  for  three  or  four 
generations,  you  will  find  them  to  be  nearly  all  cousins  in  some 
degree.  If  you  take  in  all  the  principal  families  (excepting  only 
very  recent  comers),  whether  originally  of  Scotch-Irish,  English 
Puritan,  or  other  descent,  you  may  find,  perhaps,  that  the  continu- 
al intermarriages  widen  out  in  the  descending  stream  and  commix- 
ture of  life  until  the  branching  lines  are  nearly  all  linked  togeth- 
er, and  names  and  distinctions  become  greatly  modified,  or  are 
wholly  lost,  in  the  one  whole  body  corporate  and  politic  that  con- 
tinues to  live  on  as  before.  This  is  only  a  particular  instance  of 

_  (i)  These  names  were  Adams,  Barber,  Brackett,  Diamond,  Dunbar,  Field  (John  and  Wil- 
liam), Hunt,  Leathers,  Loneley,  McCoy,  Moore,  Morison,  Hadley  (Win.  and  Isaac).  Robbe, 
Teruplctoo,  Treadwell,  Washburn  and  Wilson. 


37 

that  constant  process  that  has  been  going  on  throughout  the  coun- 
try for  two  centuries  or  more  of  the  rapid  interweaving'  of  the  va- 
rious threads  of  kindred  race  and  stock,  of  capacity,  talent,  genius, 
into  the  more  refined  texture  and  complex  web  of  a  new  American 
people. 

Nevertheless,  I  will  endeavor  to  trace  some  brief  summary  of 
the  chief  families,  earlier  or  later,  and  I  will  begin  with  the  set- 
tlers from  Londonderry : 

And  first,  the  MORISONS  were  descendants  here  of  that  John 
Morison,  whose  father  John  died  at  the  new  Londonderry  in  1736, 
and  who  stood  with  his  father's  family  under  the  walls  of  old  Lon- 
donderry at  the  famous  siege,  died  here  in  1776,  at  the  age  of  98,  and 
may  very  well  be  styled  the  patriarch  of  the  town.  They  were  an 
important  family  here  for  several  generations.  If  but  few  of 
them  now  remain,  more  may  be  found  in  other  states.  Five  of 
them,  still  partly  resident  among  you,  I  may  just  mention,  the  late 
Prof.  Horace  Morison,  for  many  years  an  eminent  instructor  at 
Baltimore,  who  died  here  in  1870,  and  whose  family  retain  at  this 
day  the  homestead  of  his  ancestor;  Geo.  S.  Morison,  Esq.,  the 
distinguished  civil  engineer,  and  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Robert  S., 
both  landholders  in  the  town;  Nathaniel  Holmes  Morison,  LL.D., 
Provost  of  the  Peabody  Institute  of  Baltimore,  for  many  years  a 
successful  educator  of  young  ladies  in  that  city,  also  a  land  own- 
er, and  a  liberal  benefactor  of  the  schools  and  library  of  his  native 
place;  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hopkins  Morison,  the  eloquent  ora- 
tor of  the  last  Centennial  Celebration,  whose  rare  genius,  extensive 
learning,  and  great  excellence  of  character,  have  gained  him  dis- 
tinction wherever  he  has  wandered,  doing  honor  to  himself,  his 
lineage,  and  the  place  of  his  birth.  May  his  eighty  years  of  well- 
spent  life  long  rest  easy  on  his  venerable  head.  In  the  line  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Mary  (Hopkins)  Morison,  son  of  Dea.  Robert  and 
Elizabeth  (Elolmes)  Morison,  there  have  been  eleven  graduates  of 
Harvard  College,  and  as  many  as  eleven  students  at  Phillips  Exe- 
ter Academy. 

Next  the  RITCHIES,  descendents  of  that  earliest  pioneer,  William 
Ritchie,  whose  son  John,  the  first  male  child  born  in  this  town, 
gave  his  life  to  his  country's  service  at  Cambridge,  in  1776,  a  re- 
spectable family  of  farmers  here  for  several  generations.  The 
Rev.  "William  Ritchie,  a  grandson  of  the  elder  William,  was  a 
speaker  at  the  last  centennial,  and  died  in  1842.  Five  of  his  grand- 
sons lost  their  lives  in  the  late  war,  Henry  being  killed  in  battle  in 
1864.  The  old  elms  that  fifty  years  ago  hung  over  the  red  house 
of  the  Ritchies  now  stand  around  its  ruined  cellar  on  the  present 
farm  of  Mr.  Geo.  S.  Morison,  one  of  the  first  spots  cleared  in  the 
town. 

Then  the  STKKLES,  descendents  of  Thomas  and  Martha  (Mori- 
son)  Steele  of  Londonderry,  and  of  their  son,  Capt.  David  Steele 


38 

of  this  town,  have  furnished  a  long  succession  of  substantial  farm- 
ers, manufacturers  and  teachers,  two  major  generals  of  militia, 
and  as  many  as  six  lawyers  of  distinction  to  as  many  towns  in 
the  State,  down  to  the  late  Stephen  P.  Steele,  a  trusted  counsellor, 
who  held  high  civil  positions  in  the  town  affairs.  Jonathan 
Steele,  a  son  of  Capt.  David,  was  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Durham, 
student,  partner,  and  son-in-law  of  Maj.  Gen.  John  Sullivan,  and 
a  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  State.  Jonathan  Steele  of  Ep- 
som, a  son  of  Thomas  of  this  town,  was  also  an  able  and  eloquent 
advocate,  and  the  compeer  at  the  bar  of  Geo.  Sullivan  and  Ezekiel 
Webster,  whose  eloquence  (when  he  was  himself),  said  Chief 
Justice  Smith,  "was  beyond  any  music  I  ever  heard."  But  few, 
if  any  of  the  name,  remain  here ;  how  many  representatives  in  the 
several  lines  of  descent  there  may  be  living  elsewhere  is  more 
than  I  can  tell.  The  line  of  the  Hon.  John  H.  Steele  is  represent- 
ed by  his  son  George,  in  Wisconsin,  by  his  son  Charles  in  Ohio, 
and  by  his  grandson,  John  H.  Steele,  the  present  town  clerk. 

The  GREGGS,  too,  were  an  influential  family,  descendents  here 
of  the  famous  Major  Samuel  Gregg  of  the  revolutionary  time,  who 
had  fought  under  Gen.  Wolfe  at  Quebec,  and  of  his  brother,  Lieut. 
John  Gregg;  and  they  are  not  yet  extinct,  though  none  of  the 
name  remain  in  this  town.  In  another  branch  of  the  original 
family  was  that  English  Admiral  Gregg  who  was  recommend- 
ed by  his  government  to  the  Empress  Catherine  II.  of  Russia, 
and  whose  grandson,  Lieut.  Gen.  Gregg,  held  high  rank  in  the 
Russian  service  as  late  as  1872,  and  still  felt  an  interest  in  the 
American  branch  of  the  family.1  They  derive  their  name  from 
the  McGregors  of  Loch  Lomond.  Col.  William  Gregg  of  Lon- 
donderry was  also  a  distinguished  officer  of  the  revolution.  Ma- 
jor Samuel  was  an  industrious  and  prudent  man,  and  when  not  en- 
gaged in  the  service  made  little-wheels,  raised  flax  for  the  women 
to  spin,  and  was  (said  his  grandson,  the  late  Samuel  Gregg  of 
Boston)  "a  great  economist,  from  whose  well-loaded  table  no 
man  ever  went  away  hungry."  He  was  a  grandson  of  Capt. 
James  Gregg,  one  of  the  first  sixteen  settlers  of  Londonderry,  a 
chief  man  there,  who  had  a  special  grant  of  land  for  a  mill.  The 
old  mill  may  still  be  seen  at  the  east  end  of  the  bridge  over  Beaver 
Brook  in  the  lower  village  of  Deny.  He  was  the  founder  of  a 
numerous  family  in  this  and  other  States.  Catharine  Gregg  of 
Londonderry  (I  think)  was  the  mother  of  Gen.  James  Miller.  Rep- 
resentatives are  still  to  be  found,  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  the 
house.  Mr.  Washington  P.  Gregg  (son  of  Samuel  of  Boston),  a 
lawyer  by  profession,  was  for  45  years  or  more  the  faithful  clerk 
of  the  city  council  there,  and  now  lives  at  East  Milton,  active  and 
bright,  though  well  up  towards  90,  and  has  in  his  possession  the 

(i)     Letter  of  E.  H.  Derby,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  who  met  him  at  St.  Petersburg  in  that  year.  : 


39 

family  bible  and  the  official  sword  of  Major  Samuel  Gregg,  his 
great  grandfather. 

The  MITCHELLS,  decended  from  Dea.  Samuel  Mitchell,  the  first 
town  clerk,  and  a  pillar  of  the  church,  continued  to  be  substantial 
farmers  in  this  town  within  the  memory  of  some  now  living.  If 
the  name  has  disappeared  from  the  town  lists,  it  is  still  represent- 
ed in  other  places.  His  son,  Benjamin,  was  present  at  the  last  cen- 
tennial as  one  of  the  three  survivors  of  the  eighty-three  citizens 
who  signed  the  "Association  Test,"  in  1776.  Stephen  Mitchell,  Esq., 
his  son,  was  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Durham,  and  was  selected  to 
address  Lafayette  in  1825.  Another  son,  Dr.  Frederick  A.  Mitch- 
ell, was  a  distinguished  physician  at  Chester,  and  died  in  1869,  at 
the  age  of  80. 

Of  the  MILLERS,  there  were  two  branches,  both  from  London- 
derry, one  descended  from  Dea.  Samuel  Miller,  who  purchased,  in 
1780,  the  four  hundred  acres  of  land  for  his  four  sons,  Matthew, 
James,  William,  and  John,  that  were  paid  for  by  the  linens  spun 
and  woven  by  Madam  Miller.  They  have  been  a  numerous  and  in- 
fluential family  down  to  a  late  day.  Of  this  line  were  Gen.  James 
Miller  (son  of  James),  the  distinguished  officer  of  the  war  of  1812 
(for  an  adequate  account  of  whom  I  must  refer  you  to  Dr.  Smith 
and  other  historians),  and  his  brother  Hugh,  for  many  years  se- 
lectman and  representative;  the  late  Dea.  Samuel  (son  of  Hugh), 
of  the  Unitarian  congregation;  and  Mark  Miller  (son  of  Andrew), 
a  noted  horticultural  editor  in  Iowa,  and  his  brother,  Dr.  Luke 
Miller,  an  eminent  surgeon  of  Minnesota.  No  one  of  this  branch 
remains  here,  unless  I  may  name  Miss  Martha  Wilder,  a  grand- 
daughter of  Jane  (Miller)  Templeton  (a  sister  of  Gen.  James  Mil- 
ler), who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  of  Matthew  Templeton,  her 
greatgrandfather.  In  the  line  of  the  other  Samuel,  a  respectable 
family  of  farmers  here  for  several  generations,  there  are  two  rep- 
resentatives, one  of  them  being  John  II.  Miller,  Esq.,  president  of 
the  day,  who  has  been  in  successive  years  a  journalist,  druggist, 
postmaster,  justice  of  the  peace,  and  (I  think  I  may  add)  a  very 
useful  citizen  in  general. 

The  ALLISONS,  descendents  of  Samuel  and  Catharine  (Steele)  Al- 
lison of  the  first  sixteen  settlers  of  Londonderry,  were  represented 
in  this  town  by  John  Allison,  his  great  grandson  (and  son  of  Sam- 
uel 3d  of  Dtmbarton),  and  in  the  families  of  Daniel  Abbot  and 
Dea.  Nathaniel  Holmes,  who  married  daughters  of  Samuel  2d,  of 
Londonderry.  John  Allison  was  for  many  years  the  overseer  of 
the  "Old  Bell,"  factory.  The  name  has  disappeared  from  this 
town,  but  is  still  represented  by  his  son,  John  P.  Allison,  Esq.,  a 
thriving  lawyer  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  Daniel  Abbot,  who  worked 
as  a  carpenter  on  the  old  meetinghouse  when  a  boy,  was  for  many 
years  a  cotton  manufacturer  and  a  trader  here,  and  died  at  West- 
ford,  Mass.,  at  the  age  of  84;  his  wife  died  in  New  York  City  in 


40 

1887.  Representatives  still  survive  in  the  families  of  his  sou  Dan- 
iel (I  think),  of  the  late  John  Scott  of  Detroit,  and  of  Jefferson 
Fletcher,  formerly  a  trader  here.  And  here  I  may  add  the  name 
of  Samuel  Allison  Holmes  son  of  Samuel  of  this  town,  and  a 
great  grandson  of  that  Capt.  Samuel  Allison  2d,  who  was  one  of 
Capt.  Mitchell's  "Londonderry  Troopers"  in  the  Indian  Avars,  and 
was  keeper  (with  John  Bell)  of  the  Londonderry  powder  in  1775. 
He  was  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt.  of  Lieut.  Col.  Easton's  St.  Louis  battal- 
ion in  the  Mexican  war,  and  served  all  through  the  late  war  as 
Colonel  of  two  successive  Missouri  regiments,  commanded  a  bri- 
gade in  Gen.  Grant's  campaign  against  Vicksburg,  and  was  pres- 
ent with  his  regiment  at  the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville  un- 
der Gen.  Thomas. 

The  MOORES,  descendants  here  of  the  brothers  Samuel  and  Wil- 
liam, sons  of  that  John  Moore  of  Londonderry  who  was  born  on 
the  night  of  the  massacre  of  Glencoe,  in  which  John,  his  father, 
was  killed,  and  his  mother,  two  sisters  and  himself  barely  escaped 
with  their  lives,  have  been  a  respectable  family  in  this  town  from 
an  early  period  down  to  this  day,  and  they  are  still  creditably  rep- 
resented both  here  and  in  other  States,  especially  New  York,  Illi- 
nois, and  Michigan. 

Dea.  Samuel  Moore  married,  in  1751,  Margaret,  daughter  of 
John  and  Margaret  (Wallace)  Morison,  a  sister  of  Elizabeth,  who 
married  William  Smith,  Esq.,  of  this  town  at  about  the  same 
time ;  since  it  is  said  that  they  were  attending  her  wedding,  and 
liked  the  idea  so  well  that  they  immediately  mounted  horse  and 
rode  to  a  justice  of  the  peace  at  Chester,  and  were  joined  at  once 
without  further  ceremony.  He  came  to  this  town  with  Samuel  Todd, 
in  that  year,  and  bought  land  on  Windy  Row,  and  settled  first  on 
what  has  since  been  called  the  "Spring  place,"  and  later  on  the 
farm  known  as  the  "Mitchell  place."  He  was  the  first  representa- 
tive of  the  town  at  Exeter  in  1775,  and  held  important  town  offices 
until  the  end  of  the  Revolution.  He  owned  two  slaves,  named  Baker 
and  Rose,  and  sold  Baker  his  freedom,  but  never  received  any 
pay,  and  provided  in  his  will  that  his  son  Ebenezer  should  support 
Rose  as  long  as  she  lived.  I  have  found  that  several  of  the  Moore 
families  of  Londonderry  and  Bedford  owned  slaves  at  that  early 
period. 

The  brother,  William  Moore,  married  Janet,  daughter  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Elizabeth  (Moore)  Holmes  of  Londonderry,  and  set- 
tied  in  this  town  about  1763.  He  had  seen  service  in  the  French 
and  Indian  wars,  was  a  Lieut,  of  militia,  and  a  warm  patriot  in 
the  revolution;  she  was  a  noted  spinner  and  weaver  of  both  linens 
and  woolens,  and  a  patriot  also,  if  all  accounts  be  correct.  In  this 
line  were  the  late  Dea.  Nathaniel  and  his  sons,  John  of  South 
Carolina,  William  and  Dea.  Nathaniel  H.  of  this  town,  George 
Washington  and  Thomas  of  Michigan,  and  William  A.  Moore, 


41 

Esq.,  a  lawyer  of  Detroit  and  a  grandson  of  the  elder  Wil- 
liam. In  the  name  of  Dea.  Nathaniel  Holmes  Moore  was  thus 
united  a  double  line  of  Moores  interwoven  with  the  Holmes 
line,  his  great  grandmother  Holmes  having  heen  a  daughter  of  an- 
other John  and  Janet  Moore,  who  came  over  to  Londonderry  from 
Antrim  County,  Ireland,  about  the  year  1724,  and  were  the  parents  al- 
so of  Col.  Robert  of  Londonderry,  and  Col.  Daniel  of  Bedford,  both 
colonels  of  N.  H.  regiments  of  militia  in  the  revolutionary  service. 
They  are  said  to  have  suffered  great  hardships  on  the  passage  over, 
and  she  was  called  Jenny  Flavel  because  she  was  a  "great  reader" 
of  the  Puritan  Flavel's  Works.  No  doubt  she  was  a  very  pious 
woman,  but  probably  not  quite  so  fierce  as  that  Jenny  Geddes  that 
hurled  her  stool  at  Laud's  Tulchan  Bishop's  head, — "Wilt  thou  say 
mass  at  my  lug,  then."  Col.  Daniel  Moore  (who  was  a  captain 
under  Stark  at  Bunker  Hill)  served  all  through  the  revolution,  his 
regiment  being  at  Saratoga  under  Gates,  and  in  Rhode  Island 
under  Sullivan.  As  many  as  four  of  his  great  grandsons  served  in 
the  late  war,  two  of  them  in  Gen.  Sykes'  regulars,  both  captives  in 
the  Libby  prison,  where  one  of  them  died,  and  the  other  being  ex- 
changed served  to  the  end  of  the  war,  but  with  health  greatly  im- 
paired for  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  he  died  at  the  soldier's  home  in 
Maine,  in  1886.  The  memory  of  Henry  Moore,  son  of  Dea.  Na- 
thaniel H.,  is  recorded  on  the  soldiers'  monument  in  this  town. 
James  N.  Moore,  son  of  Thomas,  served  in  the  late  war,  and  Capt. 
William  C.  Moore,  son  of  George  W.,  was  wounded  and  cap- 
tured in  the  first  Bull  Run  battle,  and  was  nearly  starved  in  Libby 
prison  before  he  was  exchanged  and  made  a  captain  ;  and  he  served 
with  distinction  to  the  end  of  the  war,  but  unfortunately  lost  his 
life,  soon  afterward,  in  crossing  a  swollen  river  on  the  western 
plains.  You  all  know  how  well  our  venerable  fellow-citizen  here 
(who  still  occupies  the  early  homestead  of  his  family)  has  exem- 
plified through  Ins  long  life  the  virtues,  the  patriotism  and  the 
faith  of  his  ancestors,  who  believed  (nearly  all  of  them)  in  the 
language  of  their  day  and  generation  in  "the  resurection  of  the 
body  by  the  mighty  power  of  God." 

The  HOLMESKS  were  represented  here  in  two  branches,  probably 
of  the  same  stem:  one  that  of  Abraham  Holmes,  son  of  John  and 
grandson  of  Abraham,  a  first  grantee  of  Londonderry,  whose  great 
grandson,  Mr.  Thomas  Holmes,  now  occupies  the  homestead  of  his 
ancestor  there;  the  other  was  that  of  Dea.  Nathaniel  of  this  town, 
a  son  of  Nathaniel  of  Londonderry,  who  came  over  from  Coloraine, 
Ireland,  in  1740,  with  his  father  (Nathaniel  of  Coleraine),  who 
went  on  to  Pennsylvania  with  his  three  minor  sons.  Ife  settled  in 
this  town  in  1784,  but  he  had  been  here  before  that  date.  Tradi- 
tion says  that  he  went  to  Cambridge  in  1775  at  sixteen  as  servant 
to  Lieut.  Henry  Ferguson,  and  he  enlisted  (witli  his  older  brother 
Jonathan)  in  Capt.  Finley's  Londonderry  company  for  Bonn  ing- 


42 

ton  in  1777.  The  name  has  disappeared  from  the  town  lists,  but 
is  numerously  represented  in  this  and  other  States,  and  especially 
in  New  York  and  Michigan.  There  have  been  soldiers,  farmers, 
machinists,  manufacturers,  merchants,  and  professional  men  among 
them.  Other  descendants  of  Nathaniel  of  Coleraine  were  wealthy 
families  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  still  represented  in  that  State,  New  Jersey, 
New  York,  Tennessee,  and  Missouri ;  and  descendants  of  Robert 
Holmes,  the  youngest  son  of  Nathaniel  of  Londonderry  (who  lived 
with  his  brother  here  when  a  young  man),  now  reside  in  New  York, 
Missouri,  and  California,  and  at  Elmgrove,  the  homestead  of  their 
ancestor,  on  the  fertile  banks  of  the  Elkhorn  (Scott  Co.,  Ky.), 
and  at  other  places  in  the  chosen  land  of  Daniel  Boon.  Jonathan, 
youngest  son  of  Dea.  Nathaniel,  succeeded  to  the  home  farm 
which  he  sold  to  the  town  for  a  Poor  farm,  in  1837.  The  price 
($3,850)  was  paid  out  of  the  town's  share  in  the  distribution  of 
surplus  revenue  in  the  administration  of  General  Jackson.  He 
removed  to  Bronson,  Mich.,  and  died  there  in  1884,  leaving  a  wid- 
ow, two  sons  and  two  daughters,  and  a  large  estate.  She  was  a 
granddaughter  of  Ensign  John  Taggart  of  Dublin,  who  served,  at 
Bunker  Hill,1  and  was  born  in  this  town,  a  son  of  John,  the  early 
settler.  The  old  house  has  been  burned  down,  the  old  wheel-shop  is 
gone;  some  barns  remain,  but  of  the  two  or  three  orchards  that 
once  filled  a  whole  cellar  with  barrels  and  hogsheads  of  cider  only 
a  few  scattered,  half-dead  trees  survive;  but  the  better  part  of  the 
farm  in  the  hands  of  Ezra  M.  Smith,  Esq.,  still  shows  green  fields 
and  fat  cattle.  In  the  line  of  Abraham  was  the  late  Prof.  Stephen 
R.  Holmes,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1822,  son  of  David  of 
Amherst;  in  the  other  line,  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  the  house, 
there  have  been  eight  college  men,  five  at  Dartmouth  and  three  at 
Harvard,  and  at  least  six  at  Phillips  Exeter  Academy. 

The  family  of  GKORGE  SENTKB,  a  trader  at  the  South  Village, 
and  sometime  a  mail-contractor,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Gen. 
John  Steele,  is  represented  by  his  son  John  of  Eagle  River,  and  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Antoinette  Mandlebaurn  of  Detroit. 

The  SMILEYS  began  here  with  Dr.  David  Smiley,  who  came  from 
Haverhill,  Mass.,  in  17GO,  a  revolutionary  soldier,  a  doctor,  and  a 
Baptist  preacher, — not  exactly  a  jack  of  all  trades,  but  a  kind  of 
master  of  all  arts, —  first  a  shoemaker,  then  a  soldier,  then  a  farm- 
er, then  studied  medicine,  and  then  (nobody  knows  where)  theol- 
ogy ;  and,  like  the  Rev.  Dr.  Doddridge  on  the  Pennsylvania  fron- 
tier, he  preached  and  practised  all  his  life  long  with  good  effect  on 
his  patients,  and  only  since  the  last  Centennial  laid  down  all 
earthly  functions  at  the  venerable  age  of  95.  He  is  still  represented 
here  by  Mrs.  John  G.  Leonard,  a  daughter  of  that  ingenious  watch- 
maker and  very  useful  citizen,  the  late  Mr.  David  Smiley. 
MATTHEW  WALLACE,  for  many  years  of  the  early  time,  was  mod- 

(i)     Hi»l.  of  Dublin,  Boston,  1855. 


43 

erator,  town  clerk,  selectman,  tithingman,  and  representative, 
and  owned  the  "Sarunel  Morison  Place"  prior  to  1789.  His  iirst 
wife  was  (I  think)  a  daughter  of  Matthew  Wright  of  Londonder- 
ry, and  his  second  was  Margaret,  daughter  of  Capt.  Thomas  Mor- 
ison. He  removed  long  ago  to  Vermont,  where  he  died.  His  son 
Jonathan  was  a  Universalist  minister  at  Potsdam,  N.  Y.  The 
Wallaces  were  an  important  family  of  Londonderry,  three  of 
whom  married  daughters  of  Col.  Robert  Moore,  and  were  noted 
men  of  Henniker.  They  were  descendants  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Wilson)  Wallace,  that  very  notable  lady  who  in  her  day  was  called 
"Ocean  Mary,"  because  she  was  born  at  sea  on  board  of  a  pirate 
ship  which  had  captured  the  vessel  on  which  her  parents  were  em- 
igrants in  1720;  but  the  pirate  captain,  having  a  wife  and  children 
of  his  own  at  home,  had  some  touch  of  humanity  left  in  him,  and 
set  them  all  free,  and  sent  them  on  their  voyage  with  rich  presents 
to  the  happy  mother  and  child.1 

The  DAVISONS  (or  DAVIDSONS),  descendants  of  Dea.  Thomas  Da- 
vidson who  settled  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town  in  1755,  have 
disappeared  from  the  lists.  When  he  married  Miss  Anna  Wright, 
daughter  of  Matthew  Wright  of  Londonderry,  in  1757,  she  is  said 
to  have  borrowed  from  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Holmes  her  large  wooden 
bowl  that  was  carved  out  of  a  huge  oak  knot,  and  held  near  a  half 
bushel,  for  the  barley  broth  that  was  served  in  the  orchard  at  her 
wedding.  It  came  from  Antrim  Co.,  Ireland  (and  still  survives), 
and  was  supposed  by  the  elder  ladies  to  be  two  hundred  years  old, 
and  to  have  been  used  perhaps  by  some  Highland  clan  for 

"The  healsome  part-itch,  chief  o'  Scotia's  food." 
But  further  this  deponent  saith  not; — perhaps,  after  all,  it  came 

"From  old  King  Coul 
Who  had  a  brown  bowl. 
And  was  a  jolly  old  soul." 

Nothing  said  about  the  whiskey.  He  died  in  1813  at  86;  she  died 
in  1823  at  88.  I  remember  attending  her  funeral  at  the  old  man- 
sion of  the  Davisons  one  cold  day  in  January  when  the  snow  was 
three  or  four  feet  deep.  There  were  no  ardent  spirits  there  then, 
I  think,  but  would  not  be  very  certain.  Their  son  Charles  married 
Abigail,  sister  of  Asa  Evans,  and  lived  on  the  "Davison  (or  Frost) 
place"  near  the  village.  Their  daughter  Mary  married  Major 
Jotham  Hoar,  whose  daughter  Sally  (widow  of  Nathaniel  Holmes, 
Jr.,  and  of  William  Moore  of  Michigan)  died  in  1887,  being 
within  ten  days  of  100  years  of  age.  Their  son  William,  who 
married  his  cousin  Jane,  daughter  of  Matthew  Wright  of  Jaffrey, 
succeeded  to  the  farm,  and  died  at  the  age  of  70.  I  never  knew 
of  his  being  a  hard  drinker,  but  two  or  three  of  his  sons  certainly 
were,  as  also  their  Uncle  Matthew  Wright,  if  all  accounts  are 
true;  and  it  was  said  of  him  that  he  was  a  man  of  ability,  but  an 

(i)    Cogswell  s  Hint,  of  Ilenniker,  1880. 


44 

infidel  (which  I  suppose  meant  something  very  bad  in  those  days), 
and  further  (what  was  no  doubt  true)  that  on  his  death-bed  he 
sent  his  son  down  to  New  Ipswich  for  a  big  jug  of  rum,  "that 
a'  the  poor  divils  at  his  funeral  might  have  enough."  John  Ram- 
say of  Ochtertyre  mentions  a  gentleman  of  Menteith,  who,  in  giving 
directions  for  his  funeral,  added,  "For  God's  sake,  John,  give  them 
a'  a  hearty  drink."  It  was  an  old  saying  that  a  Scot's  funeral  was 
merrier  than  his  wedding.  And  Dr.  E.  B.  Ramsay  tells  of  an  old 
maiden  lady  of  Strathspey,  who  sent  for  her  nephew,  and  said  to 
him,  "Willy,  I'm  deeing,  and  as  ye '11  hae  charge  of  a' I  leave, 
mind  now,  that  as  nieikle  whiskey  be  drunk  at  my  funeral  as 
there  was  at  my  baptism."  These  old  cusotms  have  happily 
passed  away.  Until  near  the  end  of  the  first  century,  the  boys 
worked  at  home  till  twenty  one.  At  the  Davison's  as  elsewhere 
one  might  see  the  skins  of  fox,  mink,  musquash,  and  rarely  an 
otter,  nailed  up  to  dry,  and  the  meadow  brooks  were  fished,  some- 
times at  night  with  pine  torches  and  spear,  a  sort  of  trident  or 
"three-taed  leister"  as  Burns  called  it.  Now,  I  suppose  we  should 
have  to  go  to  the  Great  West  to  find  either  the  boys  or  the  fishing  and 
hunting.  The  old  mansion  of  the  Davisons  is  gone,  but  the  farm 
is  still  productive  in  the  industrious  hands  of  Mr.  William  Moore. 
Some  few  representatives  still  survive,  I  think,  in  other  places. 
William's  BJU  John,  a  machinist  and  a  very  respectable  man,  re- 
sided (when  last  I  heard  of  him)  with  his  family  at  Holyoke,  Mass. 

JOHN  TODD,  Senior,  a  grandson  of  the  famous  Col.  Andrew  Todd 
who  married  Beatrix,  one  of  the  daughters  of  that  John  Moore  that 
was  killed  at  Glencoe,  and  lived  in  this  town  in  his  latter  days  with 
their  daughter  (Mrs.  William  Miller),  was  a  son  of  Samuel,  the  pio- 
neer settler  whose  camp  provisions  the  Indians  stole  (but  did  not 
find  those  he  had  buried  in  the  woods),  and  who  was  killed  at  last 
by  the  falling  of  a  tree.  This  John  was  present  at  the  surrender  of 
Burgoyne.  When  a  young  man,  he  lived  with  the  Hon.  John  Bell 
of  Londonderry.  His  first  wife  was  Rachel,  daughter  of  George 
and  Mary  (Bell)  Duncan,  and  his  second  was  Sarah,  widow  of  the 
Rev.  David  Annan.  He  was  a  Scotch  Presbyterian  of  the  old 
style,  a  man  of  the  kindest  feeling  and  most  benevolent  nature.  He 
lived  to  nearly  90,  and  always  had  prayers  in  his  family,  at  which 
he  would  read  and  sing,  line  by  line,  one  of  David's  Psalms :  what 
the  tune  was  I  would  not  undertake  to  say, — 

"Perhaps  Dundee's  wild,  warbling  measures  rise, 

Or  plaintive  Martin's,  worthy  of  the  name, 
Or  noble  Elgin  beats  the  heavenward  flame, 

The  sweetest  far  of  Scotia's  holy  lays, — " 

but  what  I  do  remember  is,  that  at  the  end  of  each  line,  his  loud 
voice  would  take  a  sudden  twist  upward  to  the  highest  note  in  the 
scale,  ending  in  a  kind  of  screech.  The  young  people  could  hardly 
help  laughing,  if  they  had  dared  to  laugh ;  my  sister  Elizabeth 
said  that  she  was  frightened  rather,  and  indeed,  it  was  more  Ijke 


45 

a.n  Indian  warwhoop  than  any  musical  cadence.  His  son,  Dea. 
John  Todd,  Jr.,  some  years  resident  here,  will  be  remembered  as 
an  Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  a  member  of  the  legislatui-e, 
and  a  good  man  of  the  type  of  his  ancestors,  and  I  learn  from  a 
letter  (lately  received  from  him)  that  he  reads  without  spectacles, 
feels  well,  sleeps  well,  and  writes  well;  and  in  which  he  says  he 
would  be  glad  to  be  here  on  this  occasion,  and  will  always  feel 
proud  of  his  native  place,  but  never  expects  to  go  far  from  home 
again.  He  is  still  living  in  his  90th  year  at  Wiscoy,  N.  Y.  When 
I  saw  him  last,  nearly  twenty  years  ago,  so  like  he  was  that  I  almost 
thought  I  saw  his  father's  ghost  revisiting  "the  glimpses  of  the 
moon."  There  are  some  younger  representatives  still  living:  Sam- 
uel J.  Todd,  Esq.,  a  son  of  Daniel  of  Preble,  N.  Y.,  is  a  distin- 
guished lawyer  of  Beloit,  Wisconsin. 

The  ANNANS,  descendants  of  the  Rev.  David  Annan,  whose 
father,  Robert  (and  his  eldest  son  John),  held  lands  of  the  Earl  of 
Leven  at  Ceres  near  Cupar  of  Fife.  Scotland,  have  not  continued 
here  within  the  last  half  century,  but  they  are  still  numerous  in 
other  places.  His  sons,  John  and  Robert,  and  Robert's  son  John, 
and  John's  sons  Robert  G.  and  David  L.,  were  master-machinists 
at  Franklin,  Lowell,  Manchester  and  Lawrence.  William  Henry 
Annan,  a  son  of  John,  (now  of  Boston)  was  a  roving  sailor  in  his 
younger  days,  but  came  home  to  join  the  navy  in  the  late  war, 
and  his  brother,  Capt.  Frank  Annan,  served  in  the  army.  Two 
sons  of  David  L.  of  Lawrence  are  civil  engineers  at  Kansas  City, 
the  younger  (David)  being  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College, 
in  1885. 

And  now  I  come  to  the  Lunenburgers:  there  have  been  many  of 
equal  and  some  of  still  greater  note  among  them. 

And  first,  the  SMITHS,  descendants  of  Robert  and  his  two  sons, 
John  and  William,  first  emigrants,  who  carne  to  this  town  about 
the  year  1751  to  1757.  It  has  been  a  notable  family  in  this  and 
other  states,  for  the  most  part  enterprising  men  and  leading  citi- 
zens, whether  as  farmers,  manufacturers,  merchants,  magistrates, 
or  professional  men,  supporters  of  schools,  churches,  private  inter- 
ests and  the  public  good.  John,  the  elder  brother  (who  married 
Mary  Harkness  of  Lunenburg),  had  a  large  farm  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Contoocook,  where  he  died  in  1801,  at  the  ageof8G;  she 
died  in  1822  at  87.  I  remember  seeing  her  but  a  year  or  two 
before  her  death,  sitting  in  the  corner  at  the  Smith  mansion 
(where  Mr.  Ellsworth  now  lives),  quietly  smoking  her  pipe.  Of 
their  five  sons,  I  can  only  mention  that  Robert  studied  medicine, 
and  practised  at  Bristol,  Vt.,  and  that  William  succeeded  to  the 
farm  where  he  lived  nearly  all  his  life,  a  respectable  farmer  and 
worthy  man,  and  died  at  the  age  of  96.  Of  the  eight  daughters,  I 
will  only  take  time  to  say  that  Elizabeth  married  John  White  of 
the  "White  Place,"  the  father  of  the  late  Robert  White,  Sarah  mar- 


46 

ried  first  the  Rev.  David  Annan,  and  second,  John  Todd,  Senior, 
Margaret  married  Thomas  Fletcher  of  New  Ipswich,  and  Nancy, 
her  first  cousin,  Dea.  Jonathan  Smith.  Of  William's  sons,  John 
and  Dexter  settled  in  Michigan,  and  James,  the  youngest,  a  grad- 
uate of  Yale  College  in  1840,  began  to  practise  law  in  New  Or- 
leans, and  died  much  lamented  in  1847,  a  young  man  full  of  learn- 
ing, of  zealous  ambition  and  flattering  hopes,  thus  early  cut  off  by 
an  insidious  lung  disease. 

Among  the  descendants  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Morison) 
Smith,  himself  a  chief  man  and  magistrate  of  the  earlier  time, 
whose  large  farm  was  situated  on  the  plateau  to  the  east  of  the 
Contoocook  valley,  there  were  numerous  and  able  representatives 
on  whom  it  will  be  unnecessary  for  me  to  dwell,  since  the  partic- 
ular history  of  Dr.  Albert  Smith,  his  grandson,  has  given  a  full 
and  excellent  account  of  them,  Of  Dr.  Albert  Smith  himself, 
(who  died  in  1878  in  his  77th  year),  I  scarcely  need  add,  that  he 
was  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  Smith  and  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
College  in  1825,  M.  D.  in  1833,  and  LL.  D.  in  1870,  and  practised 
medicine  in  this  town  nearly  all  his  life,  being  also  a  distinguished 
medical  professor  at  Dartmouth,  and  was  a  good  citizen  in  every 
way,  to  whom  we  are  all  much  indebted  for  his  valuable  "History 
of  the  Town  of  Peterborough." 

One  earlier  offshoot  of  this  original  stem,  it  would  be  inexcusa- 
ble in  me  to  pass  over  in  silence,  though  a  man  so  illustrious  as  to 
be  presumably  well  enough  known  to  all  here  present,  the  Hon. 
Jeremiah  Smith.  Nor  could  I  add  much  to  the  well  written  life  of 
him  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Morison,  who  knew  all  about  him;  but  I  may 
say  that  besides  being  an  influential  member  of  congress  in  the 
administration  of  Washington,  and  chief  justice  and  governor  of 
the  State,  he  was  a  man  of  superior  mind  and  genius,  a  good  classi- 
cal scholar,  a  learned  jurist,  and  an  honorable  citizen.  In  his  later 
years  he  was  a  trustee  and  treasurer  of  Phillips  Exeter  Academy, 
and  his  portrait  now  hangs  in  the  academic  hall  there  among  the 
worthies  of  that  institution.  I  remember  seeing  himself  there 
(when  I  was  a  student),  a  rather  tall  person  of  genial  pres- 
ence, with  his  large  library  around  him,  his  hair  as  white  (and  his 
conscience  no  doubt  as  pure)  as  the  driven  snow,  and  there  was  a 
certain  humorous  twinkle  in  his  clear  gray  eye,  an  hereditary  spar- 
kle (I  imagine)  of  the  wit  and  humor  of  the  Scotch-Irish  race  from 
which  he  sprung.  Said  Daniel  Webster,  "when  Jeremiah  Smith 
became  chief  justice,  it  was  a  day  of  the  gladsome  light  of  juris- 
prudence." Again,  Mr.  Webster  said  that  "lie  was  perhaps  the 
best  talker"  he  had  been  acquainted  with,  "full  of  knowledge  of 
books  and  men,  had  a  great  deal  of  wit  and  humor,  and  abhorred 
silence  as  an  intolerable  state  of  existence."  But  one  son  survived 
him,  the  Hon.  Jeremiah  Smith  of  Dover,  a  worthy  representative 


47 

of  his  ancestral  line,  also  distinguished  for  his  learning  and  ability 
as  a  justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  New  Hampshire. 

James  and  William  H.  Smith,  sons  of  John  Smith,  Esq.,  of  this 
town,  and  grandsons  of  the  elder  William,  were  prosperous  mer- 
chants at  St.  Louis.  James  Smith  gave  over  a  quarter  of  a  million 
dollars  to  the  benefit  of  AVashington  University  at  St.  Louis,  and 
made  a  liberal  donation  to  the  library  of  his  native  town.  William 
Eliot  Smith,  son  of  William  H.,  and  for  some  years  a  schol- 
arly horticulturalist,  is  now  proprietor  of  an  extensive  "Glass 
Works,"  at  Alton,  111. ;  and  his  excellent  father  is  still  active  and 
alert  at  over  80  years  of  age,  and  his  mother  is  still  living  and 
bright  aFso,  the  only  surviving  child  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  Smith. 

The  family  of  HUGH  WILSON,  an  influential  first  settler,  disap- 
peared from  this  town  at  an  early  date.  The  other  WILSONS  were 
descendents  of  that  Major  Robert  Wilson  who  stood  on  the  Heights 
of  Abraham  under  Gen.  Wolfe  in  1759,  and  marched  those  600  Hes- 
sians from  Bennington  to  Boston  in  1777.  He  was  a  stout  and  val- 
iant man,  over  six  feet  in  height,  industrious  and  prudent  in  busi- 
ness affairs,  and  acquired  considerable  property.  Madam  Wilson 
seems  to  have  been  a  woman  worthy  of  such  a  husband;  she  spun 
the  linens  and  made  the  butter  that  helped  to  send  her  son  James 
through  Harvard  College  to  become  one  of  the  most  eminent  law- 
yers in  the  State,  and  her  son  John  also  to  become  another  in  the 
State  of  Maine.  Gen.  James  Wilson  of  Keene,  son  of  James, 
was  an  eloquent  advocate  and  public  orator,  an  active  and  useful 
man,  and  a  brilliant  Major  General  of  militia.  He  made  an  in- 
teresting speech  at  the  last  centennial  here,  and  died  in  1881  at  the 
age  of  84.  His  greatest  oratorical  effort,  perhaps,  was  that  deliv- 
ered at  Keene,  in  1861,  to  arouse  his  fellow  citizens  to  the  duty  of 
saving  the  national  government  from  destruction.  But  few  of  the 
name  remain  in  this  town,  but  there  are  other  representatives  still 
living,  and  especially  on  the  female  side  of  the  house,  where  they 
still  exhibit  much  of  the  character  and  genius  of  their  ancestors. 

The  STUARTS,  descended  from  that  William  Stuart  who  was 
the  first  man  buried  on  the  hill,  were  a  numerous  and  respectable 
family  in  the  earlier  times.  None  of  the  name  now  reside  here, 
though  there  are  representatives  elsewhere  and  in  other  names. 
The  family  of  Charles  Stuart,  a  son  of  William,  was  connected 
with  the  Fergusons,  Moores,  Carters,  Evanses,  and  Turners. 
There  were  three  eminent  lawyers  of  the  name:  Charles  Jesse  of 
Lancaster,  John  of  Groton,  Mass.,  and  Charles  of  New  York  City, 
a  son  of  John  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  IS.'JO.  A 
daughter  of  Charles  J.  Stuart  lives  in  Cambridge,  the  wife  of  Prof. 
Francis  Bowen  of  Harvard  University.  Sarah  Stuart  (a  daughter 
of  John),  the  late  Mrs.  Berry  of  Washington,  I).  C.,  was  a  lady  of 
marked  character,  genius,  and  romantic  adventure  in  her  day.  The 
"Charles  Stuart  Place"  embraced  the  present  farms  of  M.  L.  Mor- 


48 

risen  and  John  O.  Nay,  which  are  still  productive,  and  the  large 
square  mansion  of  the  Stuarts  (in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Morrison), 
looks  brighter  than  in  the  olden  time. 

Of  the  SCOTTS  there  were  two  branches :  one  descended  from  that 
William  Scott,  Senior,  who  was  one  of  the  earliest,  pioneers;  the 
other  from  Alexander  Scott  and  his  son,  the  famous  Major  William, 
who  settled  here  in  1749.  Of  the  first  line  were  the  late  John 
Scott  of  Detroit,  and  his  brother,  the  late  James  Scott  of  this  town, 
who  was  an  able  man,  and  held  high  civil  positions,  political  and 
financial,  and  was  so  well  known  among  you  that  I  need  say  no 
more  that  he  was,  as  also  the  other,  a  worthy  representative  of 
this  substantial  portion  of  the  Scott  family.  His  widow  and 
daughter  are  living  representatives  also  of  that  notable  family  of 
Wilsons.  In  the  other  branch,  descendants  from  that  Alexander 
Scott  who  had  charge  of  the  powder,  lead  and  flints  of  the  early 
settlers,  I  have  already  alluded  to  the  military  characters,  but 
scarcely  less  remarkable  for  wisdom  and  prudence  in  civil  affairs 
and  business  were  the  Hon.  John  Scott  and  his  son  William,  and 
his  sons,  the  late  Hon.  Albert  S.  Scott,  Kendall,  Charles,  Henry,  and 
John  of  the  "Peterborough  Transcript." 

There  were  two  branches  of  the  WHITES,  also,  both  descendants 
of  the  first  emigrant,  John  White :  one  was  that  of  his  son  Pat- 
rick, born  in  Ireland  in  1710,  an  educated  man  who  brought  some 
property  with  him,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  the  eastern  (or  Pond) 
Whites.  Three  of  his  sons,  John,  William,  and  David,  were  sol- 
diers in  the  revolution ;  their  descendants,  besides  being  substan- 
tial farmers  and  worthy  citizens,  have  furnished  the  town  with 
martial  music  and  martial  men  down  to  this  day.  John  White,  the 
brother  of  Patrick,  was  born  in  Lunenburg,  was  the  grandfather 
of  the  late  Robert  White,  and  began  the  "White  Place"  so  called, 
where  Mr.  N.  H.  Morison  now  resides.  Joseph  Addison  White,  a 
son  of  Robert,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1840,  was  a 
teacher  in  Pennsylvania,  and  died  young;  but  three  of  his  sisters 
have  intelligent  and  prosperous  families  of  the  names  of  Spofford 
and  Cunningham  at  Rockford,  111. 

The  ROBBES,  who  were  noted  Indian  fighters  in  the  earlier  days, 
and  patriots  in  the  revolution,  have  been  respectable  farmers  and 
good  citizens  to  this  day.  Samuel  Robbe,  who  was  at  Saratoga 
in  1777,  and  married  a  daughter  of  the  famous  Major  William 
Scott,  is  still  well  represented  by  his  son,  Mr.  Stephen  D.  Robbe, 
on  the  old  homestead  of  his  ancestor;  but  the  old  one  story  house 
of  the  first  century  has  given  place  to  an  elegant  mansion  of  two 
stones  in  this  first  half  of  the  second;  and  there  are  other  repre- 
sentatives of  this  quite  numerous  family  either  at  home  here 
or  abroad. 

The  names  Alld,  Cunningham,  Ferguson,  Gordon,  and  Swan 
have  disappeared  from  the  town  lists,  but  scions  of  the  stock,  and 


49 

and  some  of  the  name  still  survive  both  here  and  in  other  places. 
Mr.  James  Swan  of  Illinois  is  here  to-day.  The  famous  Capt.  Sam- 
uel Cunningham  is  still  represented  by  the  families  of  Samuel, 
Newton,  and  Franklin  Cunningham  of  Rockford,  111.,  and  by  his 
granddaughters,  Mrs.  Augustus  Fuller  and  Miss  Catherine  Miller 
Caldwell  of  this  town,  and  by  others  in  Massachusetts,  and  in  Bel- 
fast, Me.,  which  was  founded  by  a  company  from  Londonderry. 

Of  the  NAYS,  descended  from  Dea.  William  McNee,  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers,  there  have  been  eight  or  nine  generations  of  in- 
fluential citizens.  If  they  are  not  so  very  numerous  here  now,  it 
is  certain  that  Dr.  Smith  reckoned  up  1114  of  them,  not  long  ago, 
aud  I  fear  it  would  "dizzy  the  arithmetic  of  memory"  if  I  were  to 
undertake  to  count  them  all  at  this  time,  here  and  elsewhere,  and 
especially  if  I  were  to  include  both  sides  of  the  house,  but  I  may 
just  mention  Mi1.  Marshall  Nay,  son  of  Major  Samuel,  Josiah,  son 
of  William,  and  John  O.,  son  of  George,  not  omitting  his  intelli- 
gent wife  Caroline,  daughter  of  Samuel  McCoy,  who  still  lives  in  the 
village,  hale  and  hearty  at  77,  a  grandson  of  that  Gilbert  of  Sharon 
who  came  directly  from  old  Scotland. 

If  but  few  of  the  respectable  family  of  LITTLES  still  subsist  here 
in  their  proper  name,  they  are  certainly  numerous  in  the  progeny 
of  Mr.  Jesse  C.  Little,  an  Elder  in  the  kingdom  of  Salt  Lake. 

The  Rev.  ELIJAH  DUNBAR  (who  was  of  Scotch  descent)  has  liv- 
ing representatives  in  the  families  of  some  of  his  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, one  of  them,  the  blind  poet  Henry,  who  wrote  a  hymn  for 
the  last  centennial ;  and  the  old  Dunbar  place  is  owned  by  one  of 
them.  Rev.  Mr.  Dunbar  (who  died  at  Milford  in  1850,  at  the  age 
of  77)  was  present  at  the  last  centennial ;  and  his  toast,  "To  the 
citizen  soldiery,"  was  characteristic  of  his  race,  suggesting  that  if 
a  man  had  no  sword  when  his  country  called,  he  should  "sell  his 
coat,  and  buy  one." 

The  families  of  English  Puritan  descent  have  been  increasing 
in  proportion  down  to  this  time.  There  have  been  many  able  and 
worthy  men  among  them ;  they  have  taken  a  full  share  in  all  the 
interests  of  the  town,  furnished  their  due  quota  to  the  civil  and 
military  service  and  the  learned  professions,  and  added  to  the  roll 
of  fame  at  home  and  abroad.  In  the  various  interweavings  of  all 
stocks  and  threads  into  one  community,  they  have  come  to  exer- 
cise at  this  day  a  controlling  power  and  influence  upon  tin;  credit 
and  prosperity  of  the  growing  town.  Here  I  can  but  briefly  al- 
lude to  some  few  of  them : — 

And  first  the  HADLKYS,  farmers  and  brickmakers  for  several 
successive  generations  from  that  early  settler,  Ebenezer  Iludley, 
who  stood  with  his  father  and  brother  (Samuel  who  fell)  on  Lex- 
ington Common  that  day  when  the  British  first  fired  on  American 
liberty,  have  been  good  men  and  useful  citizens  down  to  the  pres- 


50 

ent  Isaac  and  William,  who  still  occupy  the  homesteads  of  their 
ancestors,  though  the  brickmaking  lias  nearly  ceased. 

And  also  the  DIAMONDS,  descended  from  that  patriotic  drummer, 
\\i\\.  Diamond,  who  drummed  the  martial  music  all  the  way  from 
Ijexington  to  the  end  of  the  revolution,  some  of  whom  still  occupy 
the  homestead  of  their  ancestor. 

Then  the  FIELDS,  farmers,  tanners,  and  Christian  men,  from 
that  John  Field  and  his  two  sons,  William  and  Dea.  John,  who 
came  from  the  old  Puritan  town  of  Braintrec  in  1786,  and  have 
been  respectable  citizens  down  to  the  late  John  Field,  the  wealthy 
leather  merchant  of  Boston,  always  a  substantial  promoter  of  pri- 
vate morals  and  the  public  good,  and  a  liberal  benefactor  of  his 
native  place;  and  I  may  add  his  son,  Dr.  Henry  M.  Field  of 
Newton,  and  Dr.  David  Youngmau  of  Boston,  a  worthy  scion  of 
the  same  stock,  and  also  the  sons  of  William  Field,  Alexander  H. 
of  Kansas,  Albert  of  Newmarket,  Henry,  and  Franklin  who  re- 
sides on  the  homestead  of  their  ancestor. 

And  the  THAYERS,  also,  who  bring  their  lineage  from  the  Pil- 
grim John  Alden,  beginning  here  with  that  Dea.  Christopher 
Thayer,  who  was  "out  in  the  French  war  of  1757  at  sixteen," 
and  served  in  the  "revolution ;  a  numerous  family  that  whether 
here  or  in  other  places  has  produced  many  useful  men,  several 
college  graduates,  who  were  journalists  and  writers  of  distinction, 
down  to  Prof.  James  Bradley  Thayer  of  the  law  school  of  Harvard 
University. 

The  EDESES  of  English  descent,  dating  here  from  that  Sam- 
uel Edes  who  was  at  Lexington,  "drove  the  oxen  at  Bunker 
Hill,"  and  was  the  founder  of  a  large  and  respectable  family, 
have  produced  several  farmers,  some  teachers,  one  eminent  phy- 
sician (Dr.  Hiram  J.  of  Iowa),  two  distinguished  lawyers  (Amasa 
and  his  son  Samuel  H.  of  Newport),  down  to  the  late  Isaac  Edes 
(who  occupied  the  old  homestead)  and  Samuel,  the  third,  lately  a 
prosperous  tin  and  stove  manufacturer  and  representative  of  this 
town ;  and  I  need  not  omit  his  intelligent  daughter  Maria,  relict 
of  the  late  Rev.  Samuel  Abbot  Smith  of  Arlington,  Mass.,  of  whose 
three  sons,  one  (Abbot  Edes  Smith)  graduated  at  Harvard  College 
in  1877,  and  is  now  a  lawyer  in  Chicago;  another  (George  A.) 
is  a  practical  chemist,  and  the  other  (Samuel  H.)  is  a  promising 
young  lawyer  in  Boston. 

The  BARBERS  were  descended  from  Silas  Barber  who  came  to  this 
town  in  1780,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  96,  whose  sightly  brick 
homestead  is  now  occupied  by  his  grandson,  Gilbert;  and  if  the 
large  old  mansion  of  his  son  John  on  Windy  How  has  dwindled  to 
one  story,  and  the  three  or  four  large  barns  are  nearly  gone  to 
ruin  on  the  thin  rocky  soil,  its  people  still  live  and  flourish  in  Kan- 
sas, and  in  the  village  here,  at  least  on  one  side  of  the  house  of 
Riley  B.  Hatch,  Esq.;  and  the  neighboring  farm,  once  of  Samuel 


51 

and  Betsey  (Stuart)  Turner,  probably  the  tallest  couple  ever  seen 
here,  would  now  (I  think)  be  called  a  new  forest,  were  it  not  that 
a  certain  Mr.  Hayward  from  Hancock  had  conceived  the  idea  of 
heading  off  the  bush  by  planting  orchards, — as  it  were,  fighting  the 
devil  with  fire, — for  it  seems  that  apple  trees  will  grow  where  any 
other  can.  But  the  Turners  are  not  yet  wholly  extinct,  as  we  may 
see  in  Mrs.  Converse  and  Mrs.  Goodhue,  and  in  those  live  young 
men,  Charles  and  Samuel  W.  Nichols. 

And  then  the  WHITTEMORES,  beginning  with  that  Nathaniel 
Whittemore,  a  soldier  of  the  revolution,  who  came  to  this  town  in 
1781,  draw  their  line  of  descent  through  Thomas  of  Chai'les- 
ton,  Mass.,  (1641)  all  the  way  from  the  White-meres  of  Hitchin, 
Hertford  Co.,  England.  Three  of  his  sons,  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  James 
and  Bernard,  were  at  times  merchants  in  Boston,  and  they  are 
numerously  represented  in  this  and  other  States, — in  the  law  by 
Bernard  B.  of  Nashua,  Joseph  of  Detroit,  and  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  of 
Bay  City,  Mich.,  in  medicine  by  Dr.  Israel  T.  Hunt  of  Boston, 
in  the  hotel  business  by  Mr.  J.  B.  McGilvray  of  the  Maplewood  and 
San  Marco,  and  in  the  cotton  manufacture  by  John  Far  well,  son 
of  the  late  Nathaniel  Whittemore  Farwell  of  Boston.  The  old 
farm  has  nearly  gone  to  forest  again ;  but  in  a  small  open  space 
(a  little  off  the  modern  road)  on  a  rising  knoll  where  the  grass  is 
still  green,  there  stand  two  magnificent  old  elms  to  mark  the  site 
of  the  vanished  tavern  house  of  their  ancestor. 

Among  the  JKWETTS,  descendants  of  John  Jewett,  who  came  to 
this  town  from  Westford,  Mass.,  in  1797,  there  have  been  several 
notable  residents  and  some  worthy  representatives  abroad.  His 
eldest  son,  John,  was  a  wealthy  and  honorable  merchant  of  New 
York  City,  and  died  there  in  1867,  at  the  age  of  81.  Another  son, 
Ahirnaz,  married  Eliza,  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  John  Scott,  and 
lived  and  died  in  this  town.  Of  their  children  were  the  well 
known  citizens,  Charles,  and  the  late  Dea.  George  A.  Jewett  of  the 
Union  Evangelical  Church,  described  as  "a  good  man  and  a  Chris- 
tian," and  Elizabeth  (Mrs.  Win.  B.  Hale)  and  her  son,  the  distin- 
guished scholar,  Prof.  Wm.  G.  Hale  of  Cornell  University,  a  grad- 
uate of  Harvard  College  in  1870.  The  elder  John's  second  wife 
was  Margaret,  daughter  of  Dea.  Samuel  Moore,  and  their  daugh- 
ter Elizabeth  (widow  of  the  late  Ira  Felt)  'still  resides  in  the  village 
here  in  full  possession  of  her  faculties  at  the  great  age  of  8f>.  Her 
father  died  at  nearly  8f>,  and  her  mother  at  the  age  of  8ft.  They 
lived,  in  their  latter  days,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  "Frost 
Place,"  then  owned  by  their  eldest  son,  John  of  New  York.  This 
eligible  place  has  had  a  rather  noticeable  history.  It  was  origi- 
nally the  farm  of  Charles  and  Abigail  (Evans)  Davidson.  The 
old  red  house  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  (in  which  Ahimaz  Jew- 
ett once  lived  for  a  time)  has  long  since  disappeared.  Tin;  better 
modern  residence  on  the  south  wide  of  the  road  was  built  (I  think) 


52 

before  the  farm  was  sold  by  Charles  Davidson  and  wife  to  Na- 
thaniel Holmes,  Jr.,  in  1815;  and  it  passed  from  him  to  Bernard 
Whittemore,  from  him  to  Nathaniel  AVhittemore,  Jr.,  from  him  to 
David  F.  McGilvray,  from  him  to  John  Jewett,  and  from  him  to 
Cyrus  Frost,  who  came  from  Dublin,  and  is  now  owned  by  his 
son,  Charles  Albert; — an  instance  of  the  many  farms  that  have  not 
only  changed  owners,  but  have  passed  from  one  family  to  an- 
other.1 

The  EVANSES,  beginning  here  wi(h  Asa  Evans  who  came  from 
Leominster,  Mass.,  in  1784,  were  an  influential  family  in  the  first 
century.  He  was  a  large  farmer  and  a  trader,  selectman  and  keeper 
of  the  tavern  of  that  day  in  the  village.  Many  representatives 
survive  in  other  names,  if  not  in  that  of  Evans,  both  in  this  town 
and  in  other  places. 

JAMES  WALKER,  Esq.,  who  was  a  native  of  Rindge  and  a  grad- 
uate of  Dartmouth  College,  came  to  this  town  in  1814,  and  prac- 
tised law  here  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  was  a  man  of  ability  and  in- 
tegrity in  the  profession.  His  son,  the  late  George  Walker,  Esq., 
also  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  and  of  the  Harvard  Law 
School,  was  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  a  politi- 
cal economist  of  some  note,  an  agent  abroad  of  the  U.  S.  Treas- 
ury, in  1865,  and  in  his  later  years  Consul  General  to  Paris. 

Judge  WILLIAM  PENNIMAN,  a  son  of  Adam  Penniman  of  this 
town,  was  a  distinguished  public  man  of  Orleans  County,  N.  Y., 
and  died  there  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  79. 

THOMAS  PAYSON,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1784,  and  an 
eminent  teacher  for  most  of  his  life,  resided  in  this  town  in  his 
later  years,  and  of  his  large  family  there  were  some  prosperous 
merchants,  and  several  daughters  who  were  well  educated  teach- 
ers. Miss  Putnam  of  Boston,  a  relative  of  the  family  and  some- 
time resident  here,  will  be  remembered  for  her  amiable  social 
qualities  and  her  generous  gift  of  "Putnam  Grove"  to  the  public 
use  as  a  park. 

Dr.  JOHN  MUSSEY,  who  came  to  this  town  in  1800,  was  a  prom- 
inent physician  and  a  Presbyterian  of  the  straitest  sect.  He  is 
said  to  have  told  a  curious  witch  story  that  happened  to  his 
horse,  but  with  some  of  Macbeth's  misgivings,  perhaps,  as  to  the 
"metaphysical  aid."  The  name  has  disappeared  from  the  town 
lists,  but  his  son,  Dr.  Reuben  D.  Mussey  of  Dartmouth  College, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  Boston,  and  his  sons,  Drs.  William  H.  and 
Francis  B.  Mussey  of  Ohio,  were  very  eminent  physicians,  sur- 
geons, and  medical  professors. 

Dr.  KENDALL  BRUCE,  who  came  to  this  town  in  1812,  is  still 
represented  here  by  his  grandsons  George  and  Charles  F.,  sons  of 
Peter  Bruce ;  and  one  son  of  Charles  F.  is  a  physician  and  another 
a  clergyman  in  Massachusetts. 

(i)     Recently  sold  again  to  Prof.  Wm.  Caldwell,  a  descendant  of  Capt.  Samuel  Cunningham. 


53 

DR.  JOHN  YOUNG,  who  came  to  this  town  in  1764,  was  the  most 
skillful  physician  the  town  had  until  his  death  in  1807.  His 
charges  had  to  be  low  in  those  days  and  he  died  poor,  partly 
owing  perhaps  to  his  intemperate  habits.  At  last  the  town  voted 
"to  take  his  worldly  circumstances  into  consideration  and  gave 
him  the  use  of  two  cows."  His  .daughter,  Miss  Jane  Young,  a 
rather  memorable  person,  lived  here  all  her  life  in  her  own  small 
house,  dying  in  1857  at  the  age  of  84 ;  and  her  maltese  cat  and 
her  garden  flowers  did  not  long  survive. 

Another  remarkable  lady  was  Miss  FANNY  SMITH,  a  daughter  of 
Dea.  Robert  Smith  and  a  half-sister  of  Dr.  Jesse  Smith,  the  dis- 
tinguished surgeon  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Like  Miss  Young  she 
lived  by  herself  in  her  own  home,  was  a  great  reader,  a  pious 
Sunday-school  teacher,  full  of  talent  but  somewhat  eccentric,  and 
such  an  ardent  lover  of  freedom  that  when  she  died  in  1858,  at  78, 
she  dedicated  one  side  of  her  gravestone  "To  the  Cause  of  Eman- 
cipation :  may  God  prosper  it,  and  all  the  people  say,  Amen." 

The  CARTERS  came  from  Leominster,  Mass.,  and  were  a  family 
of  considerable  note  in  this  town.  David  and  Oliver  Carter,  sons 
of  Oliver  and  Jenny  (Stuart)  Carter  of  "Carter's  Corner,"  were 
enterprising  merchants  in  Boston.  It  is  said  that  David  Carter 
carried  the  first  gold  (2000  ounces)  from  the  California  mines  to 
the  Philadelphia  mint.  Milton  and  Henry  Carter  will  not  soon  be 
forgotten  by  the  lovers  of  music,  sacred  or  profane. 

The  AMESES,  descendants  of  Timothy  Ames,  who  came  from 
Andover,  Mass.,  in  1793,  have  been  an  important  family  for  sever- 
al generations.  His  son,  Timothy  K.  Ames,  was,  in  the  course  of 
his  long  and  useful  life,  a  kind  of  patriarch,  deputy  sheriff,  and 
auctioneer  for  the  whole  country  around,  moderator,  selectman, 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  representative,  and  always  an  active  sup- 
porter of  town,  school,  and  church.  The  soldier's  monument  re- 
cords the  memory  of  his  grandson,  Lieut.  Timothy  K.  Ames,  son 
of  T.  Parsons  Ames,  and  a  young  lawyer  of  promise,  among  the 
heroes  of  Peterborough  who  fell  in  the  late  war. 

The  Ameses  and  the  Carters  for  several  generations  furnished 
the  young  people  with  music  and  dancing  of  a  superior  quality. 
Most  of  them  were  tall  men  of  graceful  manners  and  nimble  limbs, 
and  could  cut  a  pigeon-wing  with  the  best  of  them.  It  was  said 
of  the  elder  Timothy  that  he  played  the  violin  so  heartily  and 
well  that  it  made  no  difference  whether  he  were  asleep  or  awake. 
The  young  people,  I  said,  not  meaning  to  exclude  all  the  older 
folks;  for  the  story  is  told  that  Dea.  Holmes  who  stood  six  feet  in 
height  and  weighed  over  300,  and  Mrs.  Upton  who  did  not  weigh  less 
than  200,  could  dance  "Fisher's  Hornpipe''  to  the  green-bag  fiddle 
of  that  notorious  African  that  bought  his  freedom  from  Dea.  Sam- 
uel Moore,  and  forgot  to  pay  for  it,  the  unforgivable  "old  Baker." 

The  UPTONS  were  a  stalwart  set  of  men.     Thomas  Upton  could 


54 

lay  more  rods  of  stone  wall  in  a  day  than  any  other  man.  Jacob 
Upton  was  a  giant  over  six  feet  high  and  a  great  mower.  He 
carried  a  wider  swath  than  any  other  man  could.  He  took  not 
less  than  a  full  tumbler  of  New  England  rum  at  each  drink,  and 
then  his  scythe  would  go  through  the  grass  as  if  there  were  a  two- 
horse  power  behind  it.  At  this  day  (as  I  am  told)  Mr.  William 
Moore's  little  girl  rides  on  the  mowing  machine,  and  will  cut  two 
acres  to  Jacob's  one  any  day,  and  never  drink  a  drop.  How  many 
of  them  remain  here  I  cannot  tell,  but  some  of  them  still  nourish  in 
other  places,  and  I  have  heard  of  one  (Mr.  Eli  Upton,  son  of  Eli, 
the  miller)  whom  I  knew  as  a  boy,  and  whose  father  was  not  rich, 
that  he  had  become  a  wealthy  farmer  and  stock  raiser  in  western 
Illinois,  with  something  like  a  thousand  acres  of  land. 

Many  others  of  whom  I  could  say  much  I  must  pass  over;  but 
I  cannot  omit  the  late  Col.  AVuiTCOMB  FHENCH  from  Dublin,  whose 
active  life  began  in  the  era  of  mail-stages,  nor  his  enterprising  suc- 
cessor, Mr.  HKNKY  K.  FRENCH  of  the  newer  era  of  railroads,  who 
built  up  the  best  hotel  in  Peterborough  (now  of  Mr.  Tucker),  and 
are  not  to  be  forgotten  among  the  benefactors  of  the  town  ;  nor  in- 
deed that  other  railroad  man,  Mr.  BENJAMIN  P.  CHENEY,  who  was 
well  known  here  in  the  day  of  stage-coaches,  and  who,  though  not 
a  native  nor  exactly  a  resident,  seems  now  bent  on  restoring  the 
old  homestead  of  the  Wilsons  to  greater  magnificence  than  it  ever 
knew  before.  JOHN  FARNUM  drove  the  heavy  teams  to  Boston, 
until  railroads  came ;  his  son  Joseph  learned  the  printer's  trade  in 
the  office  of  the  "Peterborough  Transcript,"  of  which  he  is  now 
the  senior  editor  and  joint  proprietor. 

Among  the  later  corners,  too  numerous  to  mention,  were  those 
other  CHENEYS,  sons  of  Moses  Cheney  who  came  from  Holder- 
ness,  in  1835,  to  engage  in  paper-making  with  his  brother-in-law 
A.  P.  Morrison ; — the  Rev.  Dr.  Orcn  B.  Cheney,  a  graduate  of 
Dartmouth  College  in  1839,  a  Baptist  clergyman  and  President  of 
Bates  College  at  Lewiston,  Me. ;  Charles  G.  Cheney,  a  graduate  of 
Dartmouth  in  1845,  and  a  well-known  lawyer  of  this  town,  who 
died  a  young  man;  Elias  H.  Cheney,  a  journalist  and  editor;  and 
Person  Colby  Cheney,  an  active  paper-maker,  for  many  years  a 
highly  respected  citizen  here,  and  more  recently  of  Manchester, 
who  was  a  quartermaster  in  the  late  war,  and  has  since  been  a 
popular  governor  of  the  State  and  a  United  States  Senator;  of 
whose  merits,  enterprise,  and  great  personal  worth,  there  is  no 
need  that  I  should  speak  further  in  this  place. 

Nor  must  I  fail  to  mention  his  accomplished  lady,  a  slip  of  that 
persistent  White  stock  already  alluded  to ;  for  the  ladies  arc  not 
to  be  altogether  overlooked.  They  have,  in  all  times,  borne  their 
share  of  the  duties  and  burdens  of  society,  and  they  are  entitled 
to  a  full  share  of  the  honors  of  this  occasion.  Whether  they  spin 
as  of  old,  or  dress  in  silks  without  work,  or  are  the  comforters 


55 

and  helpers  of  those  who  do  work,  and  fight,  and  govern  the 
country,  or  are  the  educators  of  those  that  shall  come  after  us,  or 
are  to  be  poets,  novelists,  editors,  clerks,  doctors,  lawyers  or 
divines,  it  nevertheless  remains  true  for  all  time  that  the  finer 
sensibilities,  the  native  virtues,  veiled  proprieties  and  deep-glanc- 
ing wise  advice  of  the  other  sex,  do  lie  at  the  very  heai-t  and  life 
of  all  humanity.  Said  a  great  English  Lord  Chancellor,  "The 
duke  is  the  strength,  the  duchess  the  ornament  of  the  house." 

Thus  we  see  how  the  abilities,  character  and  genius  of  the  fore- 
fathers, whether  in  the  family  or  in  the  whole  community  of  fam- 
ilies, are  sure  to  come  about  in  the  longer  or  shorter  circuit  and 
perpetual  round  of  all  the  trades,  callings  and  professions,  and  of 
all  the  more  brilliant  careers,  civil  or  military,  private  or  public; 
and  the  whole  body  politic  continues  to  whirl  itself  onward  and 
upward,  or  be  whirled  by  the  higher  powers,  its  head  high  in  the 
air  serene  and  its  feet  surely  and  safely  travelling  along  the 
ground. 

Looking  over  the  whole  half  century,  we  may  notice  many 
changes  for  better  or  worse,  but  mostly  for  the  better.  Not 
much  more  than  fifty  years  ago,  Daniel  Gibbs  and  his  one-horse 
mail-wagon  gave  place  to  lines  of  mail-stages,  and  weekly  teams 
did  the  freighting  business  to  Boston.  The  larger  farmers  still 
loaded  up. a  big  sleigh  or  sled  in  winter  with  pork  and  other  prod- 
uce, and  drove  it  down  to  Boston,  returning  with  supplies  of 
groceries.  When  I  went  to  St.  Louis,  in  1839,  I  traveled  all  the 
way  by  stage,  canal,  and  steamboat,  and  the  first  letters  received 
from  home  cost  me  twenty  five  cents  postage.  Now,  railroad 
trains  carry  mails,  passengers  and  freight,  twice  a  day,  and  letter- 
postage  is  two  cents  to  any  part  of  the  country;  and,  if  you  like, 
you  can  go  by  railroad  almost  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  The 
morning  newspaper  and  the  telegraph  bring  the  daily  news,  or 
hourly  messages,  from  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  the  telephone  promises  soon  to  enable  you  to  talk  with  Boston, 
New  York,  or  Washington,  at  your  leisure.  The  electric  light, 
and  the  electric  rail-car,  if  not  already  here,  are  perhaps  not  very 
far  off.  There  were  no  men  here  in  the  first  century  that  would 
now  be  called  rich:  there  are  some  richer  men  here  now  I  suppose, 
but  no  millionaire  (I  think)  has  grown  up  in  this  town,  though  in 
these  days  the  mania  for  getting  enormously  rich  seems  to  be 
turning  the  whole  world  upside  down. 

The  village  evidently  grows  in  numbers  and  extent,  there  is  a 
greater  variety  of  manufactures  and  trades,  and  four  times  as 
many  shops  and  stores.  Business  is  more  lively,  and  wealth  and 
comfort  plainly  increase.  The  place;  looks  better  than  it  did  fifty 
years  ago.  New  streets  have  been  built  up,  and  the  old  ones  im- 
proved; finer  houses  have  been  erected,  and  the  older  ones  put  in 
better  order;  unkempt  yards  now  show  green  lawns  with  flowers; 


56 

and  tall  trees  shade  the  streets.  The  public  buildings  are  larger 
and  better,  the  great  factories  look  more  inviting,  the  schools 
grow  higher,  the  libraries  swell  in  volume,  and  churches  multiply. 
If  society,  if  morals,  if  religion,  is  not  better,  it  is  more  genial, 
free,  and  general,  the  humanities  are  more  regarded,  the  charities 
more  thought  of,  and  with  all  other  blessings  (it  is  to  be  hoped) 
there  comes  increase  of  wisdom  in  the  sight  of  the  Most  High. 

If  population  does  not  expand  within,  emigration  expands  with- 
out. New  Hampshire  (as  Daniel  Webster  said  in  his  day)  is  "a 
good  state  to  emigrate  from."  If  the  rougher  hill  farms  go  to  for- 
est seed  again,  the  young  farmers,  with  vigorous  wing,  fly  over 
the  ridges  into  the  richer  western  plains;  or  they  slip  down  into 
the  lower  villages  to  add  fresh  activity  to  the  growing  enter- 
prise and  ingenuity  of  the  place;  or  they  rush  abroad  into  the 
great  cities  to  reinforce  the  commerce,  the  intellect,  the  character, 
and  the  genius  of  the  whole  country. 

The  smooth  round  hills  and  rolling  plateaus  and  well  watered 
valleys  remain  fresh  and  green  as  in  the  earlier  times.  If  here 
and  there  an  old  farm  house  goes  to  decay,  new  and  better  ones 
are  built  instead ;  the  dark  weather  beaten  dwellings  that  in  the 
first  century  never  saw  paint  have  nearly  everywhere  put  on  a 
new  trim  of  bright  colors.  Sons  and  daughters  return  from  the 
wider  fields  and  centres  of  wealth  and  prosperity  to  remodel  and 
embellish  the  old  mansions  of  their  ancestors  into  elegant  summer 
residences,  adding  life  to  the  local  business,  and  giving  tone  the 
higher  social  culture.  The  varied  and  beautiful  scenery  of  the 
whole  mountain-rimmed  basin  affords  ever  new  attraction  to  the 
stranger,  and  charms  and  delights  the  native  resident.  The  Grand 
Monadnoc,  as  at  the  first  day,  towers  sublime  into  the  clear  blue 
sky,  as  it  were  in  sempiternal  majesty  looking  down,  silently, 
graciously,  upon  the  smiling  scenes  below : — 

"In  his  own  loom's  garment  dressed, 
By  his  proper  bounty  blessed, 
Fast  abides  this  constant  giver, 
Pouring  many  a  cheerful  river; 
To  far  eyes,  an  aiirial  isle 
Unploughed,  which  finer  spirits  pile, 
Which  morn  and  crimson  evening  paint, 
For  bard,  for  lover,  and  for  saint; 
The  people's  pride,  the  country's  core, 
Inspirer,  prophet,  evermore." 


57 

POEM 
BY  PROF.  N.  H.  MOKISON,  OF  BALTIMORE,  MD. 


Read  by  Her.  J.  II.  Mvrison,  D.  D. 


Full  fifty  years  of  life  and  toil 

Have  tilled  their  circles  free, 
Since  our  good  town  rejoicing1 

Held  its  first  great  jubilee. 

Midst  joys  and  SOITOWS  fitly  borne, 

And  hurryings  to  and  fro, 
What  changes,  kind  or  sad,  have  come, 

Since  fifty  years  ago? 

Still  Grand  Monadnock  guards  the  west, 

With  all  its  ancient  pride; 
And  fair  Contoocook  to  the  sea 

Still  rolls  its  joyous  tide. 

The  Pack-Monadnocks  clothe  the  morn. 

In  radiant  beauty  still ; 
And Nubanusit's  toiling  wave 

Still  turns  the  busy  mill. 

The  fields  are  still  as  white  with  corn, 

The  dancing  brooks  as  bold, 
And  autumn's  tints  as  warm  and  bright, 

As  in  the  days  of  old. 

The  hills  and  dales,  the  streams  and  woods, 

The  mountain's  evening  glow, 
Are  all  as  glad  and  beautiful, 

As  fifty  years  ago. 

The  magic  charms  of  nature  stay, 

But  men  will  come  and  go; 
And  many  a  household  fire  has  died, 

Since  fifty  years  ago. 

The  ancient  mansion  still  is  seen 

Beneath  its  sheltering  tree; 
But  where  the  youths  and  maidens  fair 

That  filled  these  homes  with  glee? 

Alas!  their  names  have  vanished  quite; 

Their  home  another  fills; 
And  fields  the  fathers  won  with  toil 

The  heedless  stranger  tills. 

Gone  \=,  the  mother's  toiling  care; 

Gone  are  ihc  sons  she  bore; 
And  gon  ;  the  rate  from  which  they  sprung ;- 

Their  place  i.-  I. ere  no  more. 


68 

Some  Bought  tl  e  city's  busy  mart; 

Some  trod  the  western  wild, 
Where  one  high  place  in  power  attained. 

The  nation's  honored  child ; 

And  one  a  princely  fortune  gained, 

But  laid  his  treasures  down 
In  generous  gifts  to  learning  made, 

And  to  his  native  town. 

Some  sought  the  placer's  golden  hoard. 
Some  nurse  the  luscious  vine ; 

Some  plant  the  scented  orange  grove ; 
Some  delve  the  teeming  mine. 

O'er  prairies  broad  and  mountains  bare 
Their  homes  are  scattered  wide, 

From  cold  Alaska's  snowy  peaks 
To  Tampa's  seething  tide. 

We  watch  with  fond  parental  pride 
These  children's  growing  powers, 

And,  with  the  honors  they  have  won, 
We  claim  them  still  as  ours. 

New  faces  throng  our  village  streets : 

New  manners  too  appear ; 
And,  in  the  council  of  the  town, 

New  voices  now  we  hear. 

And  yet  no  discord  mars  the  sound, 

No  jealousy  the  view ; 
For  social  ties  have  made  as  one 

Our  townsmen,  old  and  new. 

The  old  traditions  are  preserved ;. 

The  fathers  still  revered ; 
Their  traits,  stamped  deep  upon  the  town, 

Have  never  disappeared. 

We  see  their  manly  energy ; 

We  see  their  courage  bold ; 
We  see  their  scorn  of  meanness  vile, 

As  in  the  days  of  old. 

We  see  their  homely  eloquence ; 

Their  biting  wit  and  frown, 
To  pull  pretentious  ignorance 

And  prating  folly  down. 

We  see  their  teasing  mirthfulness. 

That  friend  nor  foe  will  spare : 
Fun  that  the  eyes  alone  express : 

Their  love  of  play  that's  fair. 


59 

All  honor  to  the  fathers  then, 
Who  built  this  ship  of  state ; 

And  honor  to  their  worthy  sons, 
Whose  labors  made  it  great. 


And  honor  to  the  citizens 

Of  this,  our  later  day, 
Whose  hands  the  rudder  firmly  grasp, 

To  guide  it  on  its  way. 


And  so,  when  fifty  years  again 
Have  told  their  circuits  round. 

The  ship  shall  still  be  sailing  on, 
With  every  timber  sound. 


In  youth's  fair  morn,  when  life  was  new, 

And  patriot  feeling  strong, 
I  made  for  friends  that  loved  and  cheered 

My  earlier  festal  song. 

And  now,  when  age  its  frosts  has  spread. 

And  friends  have  passed  away, 
I  lay  this  wreath  of  grateful  verse 

Upon  their  tombs  to-day. 


My  task  is  done,  but  feelings  strong 

Within  my  bosom  swell, 
As,  to  these  scenes  of  youth  and  joy, 

I  bid  a  last  farewell." 


Farewell,  ye  hills  so  fondly  loved ; 

Ye  waters,  dark  and  bright; 
Farewell,  ye  fields  where  oft  I've  roved ; 

My  native  town,  good  night. 


Benediction  bv  Rev.  J.  II.  Hoffman. 


During  the  intermission  for  dinner  the  band  gave  a  fine  concert 
from  the  band  stand  in  Phoenix  park,  rendering  the  following  se- 
selections: 


MA  KOI  i,     . 

OVKKTUKK. 


"On  the  Right." 
.   "Le  Claire." 


WALTZ, ''Fairy." 

MEDLEY,      '"Wake  up  (Jabi-iel." 


60 

AFTERNOON. 

At  two  o'clock  promptly,  the  vast  audience  which  had  again  as- 
sembled in  the  Town  Hall  was  called  to  order  by  the  President,  in 
the  following  manner: 

FELLOW  CITIZENS: — The  formal  exercises  of  this  occasion,  as  ar- 
ranged by  the  Executive  Committee,  have  been  concluded,  and 
what  to  all  of  us  partake  of  a  more  social  greeting,  are  now  to  be 
held.  In  this  afternoon  gathering,  I  have  summoned  to  rny  assist- 
ance my  fellow  townsman — one  who  like  myself  is  native  of  the 
soil,  and  who  has  known  no  other  home  than  this;  one  identified  as 
a  leader  in  the  political,  military  and  material  interests  which 
mark  the  progress  we  have  developed  in  the  last  fifty  years — who 
has  presided  in  more  deliberative  assemblies  than  any  citizen  now 
living,  and  a  long  time  custodian  of  the  peace  and  dignity  of  the 
State.  I  have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  COL.  CHARLES  SCOTT. 

MR.  PRESIDENT: — I  thank  you  for  the  very  flattering  introduction 
you  have  given  me,  and  did  I  suppose  you  had  called  me  here  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  speech,  I  must  be  dull  indeed  did  I  not 
find  sufficient  in  your  presentation  to  claim  my  attention.  It  is 
true  that  I  am  a  native  of  this  good  old  town,  and  have  ever  made 
it  my  home;  that  I  have  found  here  among  these  grand  old  hills  a 
sufficient  field  in  which  to  exercise  what  little  of  ability  I  possess, 
and  have  been  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  this  my  native 
town,  have  aided  in  its  deliberations  and  sought  to  increase  its 
growth  and  general  prosperity,  and  to  assist  in  maintaining  the 
high  standard  of  enterprise  and  moral  worth  inaugurated  by 
the  early  settlers  and  fathers.  How  far  we  have  been  successful 
in  our  efforts  let  those  to  whom  we  bequeath  the  legacy  given  to  us, 
answer.  It  is  also  true,  Mr.  President,  that  ever  since  a  boy  I  have 
been  interested  in  and  connected  with  some  military  organization. 
Peterborough  has  ever  been  famous  for  the  martial  and  patriotic 
spirit  of  her  citizens.  In  the  early  history  of  the  town,  during  the 
French  and  Indian  wars,  from  the  years  1755  to  17GO,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  only  about  400  people,  she  gave  thirty  of  her  best  men  to 
drive  back  the  invaders,  the  French,  and  to  protect  their  families 
and  homes  from  the  merciless  savage.  In  the  war  of  the  revolu- 
tion for  independence,  when  the  population  of  the  town  numbered 
less  than  GOO  souls,  145  did  service  for  their  country,  many  of 
whom  served  during  the  entire  seven  years  of  war,  and  among 
whom  were  my  ancestors.  Do  you  think  it  strange,  Mr.  President, 
that  with  such  an  ancestry  as  this  that  the  native  sons  of  old  Peter- 
borough should  early  manifest  a  patriotic  spirit  and  love  of  country, 
and  pride  in  the  place  of  their  birth?  Oh,  no;  recreant  indeed 
would  they  be  did  they  not  manifest  a  willingness,  a  desire  even, 
to  maintain  at  whatever  sacrifice,  the  glorious  legacy  so  dearly 
purchased.  In  the  later  wars  of  1812  and  1814  Peterborough  took 


61 

no  backward  steps,  but  gave  to  the  service  of  her  country,  twenty- 
five  of  her  citizens,  among  them  that  famous  son,  Gen.  James  Mil- 
ler, whose  military  record  shone  resplendent,  and  whose  reputation 
became  as  wide  as  the  world.  "I'll  try  sir"  were  his  words,  im- 
mortal words.  How  many  a  student  in  life,  how  many  a  business 
man  acting  under  the  inspiration  of  that  motto  has  bounded  on 
from  one  obstacle  to  another  until  he  has  mastered  the  situation 
and  gained  the  victory. 

But  let  us  come  down  a  little  further  in  the  history  of  the  town. 
What  have  we  been  doing  in  the  last  fifty  years?  If,  sir,  there  is 
any  one  thing  of  which  I  boast  for  Peterborough,  it  is  her  record, 
the  part  she  bore  in  the  unfortunate  struggle  forced  upon  the  coun- 
try in  1861  by  those  who  sought  to  dishonor  our  flag  and  break 
down  the  government  established  by  our  fathers.  More  than  one- 
tenth  of  our  population  entered  the  army  for  the  Union,  and  did 
valiant  service  for  the  country  they  loved.  Many  of  them  never 
returned  to  enjoy  the  homes  they  had  helped  to  save.  They  were 
my  schoolmates  in  boyhood,  my  companions  and  associates  in 
business  in  later  years,  my  comrades  in  the  field,  and  by  me,  at 
least,  shall  never  be  forgotten.  But  Mr.  President,  the  time  alloted 
to  us  to  be  together  is  limited,  and  I  must  not  prolong  my  remarks. 
I  see  before  me  many  natives  and  former  residents  of  Peterbo- 
rough whose  voices  we  wish  to  hear,  and  to  whom  the  time  le- 
gitimately belongs.  I  will  now  call  i  pon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hoffman 
to  offer  prayer. 

Prayer  by  Rev.  John  II.  Hoffman. 
The  Chairman : 

And  now,  having  partaken  of  the  bountiful  collation  in  the  ban- 
quet hall  overhead  and  listened  to  solemn  prayer,  let  this  vast  audi- 
ence all  rise,  and  led  by  the  choir,  join  in  singing  old  "Peterbo- 
rough"— ''Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow." 

All  joined  in  singing  old  "Peterborough." 
The  Chairman : 

My  heart  was  made  glad  a  few  days  since  in  hearing  <hc  tones  of 
the  old  Academy  Bell  as  they  came  floating  out  upon  the  breeze 
from  its  new  home  in  our  new  school  building,  having  been  moved 
from  the  tower  of  the  old  academy,  where  it  had  stood  s<  ntinel  for 
more  than  half  a  century.  I  see  present  with  us  to-day  OIK;  who  I 
am  sure  would  recognize  the  peculiar  tones  of  that  bell  wherever 
he  might  hear  them  ;  one  who  was  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century  pastor  of  one  of  our  leading  churches,  and  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  educational  interests  of  the  town,  the  Rev.  George 
Duslan,  \\lio  will  speak  to 

"THE  SCHCOI.S  OF  PET  KRHO  HOUGH." 

MK.  PRESIDENT: — My  theme  is  "School  Work  and  its  Results  for 
fifty  years."  Having  been  personally  identified  with  my  subject 


for  nearly  thirty  years  and  deeply  interested  iu  it,  I  feel  somewhat 
prepared  to  speak  upon  it.  I  believe,  also,  that  most  of  my  audi- 
ence will  be  in  full  sympathy  with  me  in  to-day's  cursory' review 
of  the  school  work  of  the  past,  since  it  touches  every  home,  every 
profession,  and  every  business  interest  here. 

Cradled  in  this  beautiful  valley,  and  somewhat  shut  out  from  the 
outside  world  by  lofty  hills,  Peterborough  has,  nevertheless,  been 
making  history  the  past  five  decades.  "Whether  the  work  has  been 
well  done  will  better  appear  in  the  future,  perhaps,  though  some 
results  may  be  seen  to-day,  at  the  close  of  a  century  and  a  half 
from  the  first  sound  of  the  settler's  axe  on  the  hillsides  about  us, 
and  the  first  smoke  of  the  settler's  cabin — a  pledge  and  a  promise 
of  future  harvests  of  grain  on  the  hillsides  and  of  children  in  the 
cabins,  which  pledge  and  promise  have  been  fulfilled  for  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years. 

I  should  have  been  untrue  to  my  judgment  and  heart  as  one  who 
has  ever  been  interested  in  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  this  fair 
town  in  enterprise,  morality  and  education,  had  I  not  responded  to 
your  invitation  to  be  present  and  enjoy  this  feast  of  fat  things. 
Though  not  a  son  to  the  manor  born,  I  am  something  better,  per- 
haps. Most  of  you  could  not  help  being  born  here;  but  I  am  a 
son  by  choice — persistent  choice,  too,  having  persevered  I  became 
.son  by  marrying  one  of  the  many  fair  daughters  of  your  town, 
and  father  of  children  who  call  this  their  native  place.  So,  with  a 
loyalty  as  true  as  steel,  chastened  by  the  tender  and  touching  mem- 
ories of  the  past,  I  should,  had  I  not  gathered  with  the  assembled 
tribes  here  to-day,  have  proved  recreant  to  the  deepest  feeling  of 
my  nature  and  the  warmest  sentiments  of  home  and  humanity  that 
forever  live  in  the  breast  of  the  patriot,  however  sharp  be  the  cli- 
mate or  rough  the  soil  of  the  home  to  which  he  has  given  his  best 
thoughts  and  maturest  energies. 

Recognizing  your  own  love  and  respect,  I  may  say  the  peaks  of  the 
hills  around  Peterborough  are  not  truer  in  their  pointing  heaven- 
ward, and  the  rivers  in  these  valleys  not  more  certain  in  their 
course  than  the  flow  of  my  feelings  toward  you  and  yours. 

After  listening  to  the  interesting  address  of  the  morning,  and  the 
reading  of  the  interesting  poem,  especially  from  his  lips  whose 
heart  is  as  the  heart  of  tenderness,  and  whose  life  interest  in  this 
town  has  run  as  a  red  silken  strand  of  love  through  nearly  a  centu- 
ry of  your  history,  and  whose  look  is  forward  into  the  coming  sto- 
ry of  the  years,  with  the  same  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
best  good  of  this  people  of  every  sect,  politics  or  name. 

I  do  not  aspire  to  rhetorical  utterance,  but  in  plain  and  simple 
speech,  to  tell  something  of  the  story  of  your  labors  and  rewards 
as  scholars.  Undoubtedly  the  schools  here,  as  elsewhere  have  la- 
bored under  the  disadvantages  of  poor  school  houses  and  incompe- 
tent teachers  at  times,  but  I  am  persuaded  their  success  will  com- 


63 

pare  favorably  with  scholars  in  other  towns.  We  are  told  by  the 
town  historian  that  in  1837  a  neat  brick  building  was  built  on  a  lot 
presented  to  the  town  by  Gen.  James  Wilson  which  was  to  be  used 
as  an  academy,  and  in  that  academy  have  been  educated,  from  the 
days  of  Principal  Hurd  to  the  present  time,  the  most  promising 
youths  of  the  last  forty  years.  The  teachers  in  that  academy  gen- 
erally proved  very  capable.  Some  of  them  were  possessed  of  more 
than  usual  scholarship  and  ability  to  impart  knowledge.  The 
youth  of  Peterborough  have  had  the  opportunity  of  securing  well 
disciplined  minds  under  the  care  of  many  efficient  teachers,  who 
have  given  instruction  in  the  academy  and  high  school  in  the  past. 
And  whatever  happens  to  the  building  or  the  grounds,  that  spot 
will  ever  live  in  the  memory  as  a  place  sftcred  to  friendship  and  to 
scholarship.  Previous  to  the  erection  of  the  academy  building,  a 
school  house  of  note  had  been  built  east  of  the  Main  street  bridge, 
two  stories  high ;  the  upper  part  built  by  subscription  and  to  be 
used  as  an  academy.  This  building  proved  serviceable  for  school 
purposes  for  several  years,  until  the  school  house  situated  on  what 
is  now  the  railroad  lot  was  erected — made  necessary  by  the  growth 
of  the  centre  district.  In  1871  the  high  school  district  was  estab- 
lished by  vote  of  the  town.  This  school  was  created  none  too  soon, 
and  has  answered  a  need  and  done  a  work  for  education  of  most 
vital  importance.  Within  a  short  time  the  schools  in  town  have 
been  consolidated  into  one  district,  to  their  great  advantage.  Sev- 
eral school  houses  have  been  built,  and  a  commodious  and  conven- 
ient school  house  crowns  one  of  the  hills  of  the  viliage,  to  the  joy 
of  the  inhabitants  and  the  honor  of  the  town.  This  edifice  will 
probably  stand  for  many  years — till  the  two  hundredth  anniversa- 
ry of  the  town  occurs — a  monument  to  the  good  judgment  of  the 
committee  of  selection,  and  as  a  result  of  many  discussions  in  the 
town  hall,  wise  and  otherwise,  heated  and  jocose,  but  all  subsiding 
into  good  nature. 

It  seemed  not  the  wisest  thing  for  all  to  remain  in  the  home  nest, 
and  as  the  eagle  pushes  her  eaglets  from  the  eyrie,  that  they  may 
test  the  strength  and  plume  their  wings  for  lofty  flights,  so  some 
of  your  choicest  youth  have  been  constrained  to  go  forth  to  find 
work  and  win  fame  in  other  places.  This  town  has  not  been  float- 
ed up  to  the  level  of  other  towns  of  like  population  by  extraneous 
force,  as  a  vessel  is  sometimes  lifted  by  an  incoming  tide  that 
touches  all  keels  alike,  but  by  the  force  of  inherent  vigor,  through 
culture  and  mature  strength  of  character. 

Most  prominent  among  those  who  have  contributed  to  the  suc- 
cess of  your  schools  the  first  part  of  the  century  may  be  mentioned 
Revs.  Cutler  and  Robinson,  Dr.  Cutter,  who  was  superintending 
school  committee  many  years;  Dr.  Smith,  Mr.  Howe,  Kx-Gov. 
Steele,  the  Noones,  Adams,  Cheneys  and  Morisons.  But  perhaps 
no  one  did  more  for  the  welfare  of  education,  as  teacher  and  citi- 


64 
• 

zcn,  than  A.  S.  Scott,  Esq.,  whose  final  efforts  were  crowned  by 

the  creation  of  the  high  school. 

There  is  a  pleasant  tradition  among  older  citizens  of  the  success 
of  the  Peterborough  lyceum,  and  I  have  no  doubt  the  schools  de- 
rived very  much  of  benefit  from  that  vigorous  institution  of  which 
our  President  of  the  day  was  a  worthy  member. 

I  wish  also  to  mention  as  a  great  assistance  to  the  educational 
work  of  the  town,  your  valuable  town  library,  which  lias  grown  under 
the  fostering  care  of  Messrs.  Pendleton,  Jackson,  Hatch,  Dr.  Cut- 
ler, Wai  bridge,  Chase,  and  others,  to  such  grand  proportions  and 
influence;  also  promoting  by  large  use  at  the  fireside,  the  acquisi- 
tion of  a  good  amount  of  practical  knowledge.  Says  one :  "There 
may  be  epics  in  men's  br&ins  .just  as  there  are  oaks  in  acorns,  but 
the  tree  and  the  book  must  come  out  to  measure  them."  The 
earnest  and  successful  men  and  women  here  and  those  who  have 
gone  forth  from  you,  had  the  promise  of  success  in  the  schools 
within  the  environment  of  this  fair  town. 

The  weekly  paper  issued  here  has  also  been  a  most  important 
factor  in  the  work  of  educating  the  young.  This  paper  has  always 
been  in  sympathy  with  the  best  education  of  the  people,  and  has 
contributed  very  much  to  the  acquisition  of  a  valuable  amount  of 
practical  knowledge.  The  editors  arc  to  be  congratulated  on  their 
success,  and  the  inhabitants  on  the  pleasure  and  information  afford- 
ed them  weekly  in  perusing  their  village  paper. 

With  increased  numbers  of  children  attending  school,  increased 
facilities  for  doing  school  work,  increased  appropriations  for 
school  support,  better  trained  and  more  efficient  teach  ;rs.  there 
seems  no  reason  why  the  schools  of  Peterborough  should  not  only 
retain  their  rank  attained  in  the  past,  but  also  advance  to  more 
commanding  usefulness  and  higher  success.  While  but  few  of  the 
young  people  before  me  may  be  looking  forward  to  a  professional 
career,  yet  all  who  >hall  improve  their  opportunities  in  the  schools 
to-day  may  become  men  and  women  fitted  in  scholarship  and  char- 
acter to  occupy  any  position  of  trust  in  the  town  or  state. 

My  friends,  it  has  been  a  privilege  and  a  pleasure  to  have  been 
associated  with  jrou  in  school  work  here  for  one-fourth  of  a  cen- 
tury, and  to  have  a^isti-il  in  any  degree  in  giving  dirccfion  to  the 
thoughts  of  the  young  on  social  and  moral  questions  of  the  times. 
Of  course  you  cannot  get  the  same  results  out  of  all  material. 

"You  mav  grind  them  both  in  the  self-same  mill, 

Yon  may  bind  them  heart  and  brow; 

But  the  poet  will  follow  the  rainbow  still, 

And  the  other  will  follow  the  plow." 

And  yet  in  the  plan  of  God  they  shall  each  fulfill  (lie  purpose  de- 
signed, and  prove  useful  in  their  day  and  generation. 

Important  as  may  be  the  material  interests  of  this  town  1  do  not 
deem  them  the  ones  most  demanding  attention ;  attractive  as  may 


.     65 

be  the  allurements  of  gain  and  honor,  I  do  not  deem  them  the 
highest  end  of  pursuit.  Intellectual  and  moral  character  are 
more  necessary  in  citizens  than  fine  establishments  with  impaired 
virtue.  I  believe  you  are  contributing  to  the  elevation  of  the  com- 
munity by  cherishing  your  schools  and  your  churches  in  the  inter- 
est of  sound  learning  and  high  virtue. 

To  you  the  test  of  loyalty  and  devotion  to  country  came  when 
young  men  here,  some  of  them  but  just  out  of  school  and  others 
just  entering  upon  business  life,  answered  the  call  for  soldiers  and 
went  forth  in  defense  of  their  country,  for  which  service  they  had 
been  in  some  measure  prepared  by  the  discipline  of  the  school  room. 
It  is  said  that  in  the  formation  of  the  features  of  the  human  face 
our  climate  and  natural  scenery  give  a  moulding  and  shading  to 
the  general  expression  of  the  countenance  so  that  every  child  born 
in  New  Hampshire  has  a  peculiar  mark,  that  will  show  the  delicate 
but  strong  impress  of  the  touch  of  nature  among  these  hills  and 
valleys. 

If  so,  what  scenery  anywhere  surpasses  in  commanding  and  win- 
ning beauty  that  which  appears  mantling  and  gracing  the  vast 
basin  of  forests  and  farms  that  lies  within  the  embrace  of  our  hills? 
No  scenery  was  ever  better  fitted  to  mould  and  make  rugged  and 
strong,  manly  character,  and  develope  gentle  and  delicate  lines  of 
thought  and  sympathy,  than  that  which  gems  our  valleys  and 
crowns  our  mountains,  as  to-day,  with  a  coronation  of  glory. 

It  is  my  warmest  wish  that  you  may  so  cultivate  the  brawn, 
brain  and  heart  of  your  children,  that  they  may  be  recognized  ev- 
erywhere by  the  infallible  characteristics  of  true  men  and  women : 
in  the  honor  that  stamps  the  brow,  the  light  of  intelligence  that 
gleams  from  the  eye,  and  the  language  of  truth  and  purity  that 
flows  from  the  lips  as  here,  or  in  any  part  of  our  land,  they  shall 
contribute  material  of  stable  worth,  upon  which  may  be  built  the 
success  of  a  people  who  are  moulding  the  destinies  of  states.  And 
as  we  take  the  hand  of  one  born  here,  or  look  into  his  eye.  the  grasp 
of  the  first  shall  be  that  of  a  friend,  and  the  look  of  the  other  shall 
bespeak  unfaltering  trust  in  truth  and  God. 

The  Chairman : 

I  now  ask  your  attention  while  I  read  a  letter  from  an  absent  son 
of  the  town,  and  will  call  upon  the  Hon.  Thomas  Moore  of  Adrian. 
Michigan,  a  native  of  old  Peterborough,  to  respond  to  the  senti- 
ment therein  contained. 

BOSTON,  OCTOBER  21,  1881). 

JOSEPH  FAUNUM,  ESQ.,  AND  OTHERS,  COMMITTEE  OK  INVITATION. 
GENTLEMEN:— When  I  first  learned  that  Peterborough  was  to  cele- 
brate its  1.00th  anniversary,  on  the  24th  inst.,  I  intended  to  be  pres- 
ent and  participate  in  its  exercises  and  festivities.  But  circum- 
stances have  transpired  that  will  prevent  my  attendance  on  that  in- 
teresting occasion. 


66 

I  regret  this  exceedingly,  as  it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  be 
present,  and  once  more  grasp  the  hands  and  look  into  the  faces  of 
my  early  friends  and  acquaintances. 

I  WM  born  in  Peterborough,  and  spent  some  of  rny  happiest 
years  in  that  good  old  town.  The  remains  of  my  mother  repose  in 
the  "old  cemetery"  on  the  hillside,  near  the  site  of  the  first  meet- 
ing house. 

Those  hills  and  valleys,  those  sandy  plains  and  shady  woodlands, 
the  old  Contoocook  and  its  fertile  meadows,  are  all  imprinted  in 
my  memory.  Those  old  fashioned  farm  houses  and  the  more  mod- 
ern village  dwellings,  I  shall  never  forget  them,  nor  the  dear 
friends  who  once  inhabited  them.  I  often  recall  the  words  of  Gen. 
James  Wilson,  in  his  speech  at  your  centennial  celebration,  just 
fifty  years  ago.  Among  many  other  interesting  remarks,  he  said : 

"Forget  Peterborough!  How  can  I  forget  her?  Why,  sir,  I 
was  born  just  over  there.  The  bones  of  my  ancestors,  paternal 
and  maternal,  are  deposited  just  over  there;  and  among 
them,  there,  repose  the  remains  of  my  mother.  Oh!  sir,  it  would 
be  cold  and  heartless  ingratitude  to  forget  the  place  where  one's 
best  friends  slumber  in  death !  Spare  me,  Oh !  spare  me  such  a 
reproach." 

I  hope  and  trust  that  your  plans  and  expectations  for  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  day  will  be  fully  realized,  and  that  the  proceedings  and 
the  various  exercises  will  be  enjoyable  and  satisfactory  to  all  con- 
cerned. 

Allow  me  in  closing  to  give  you  the  following  toast: 

The  absent  sons  and  daughters  of  Peterborough:  In  all  their 
wanderings  and  sojournings,  may  they  never  forget  their  mother — 
the  dear  old  town  of  Peterborough. 

I  am  faithfully  and  truly  yours, 

DAVID  YOUNGMAN,  M.  D. 

Response  by  Hon.  Thomas  Moore,  of  Adrian,  Mich. 

MR.  CHAIRMAN,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN,  AND  CITIZENS  OF  PE- 
TERBOROUGH : — It  gives  me  the  greatest  pleasure  of  my  life  to  be 
present  to-day,  and  mingle  with  you,  and  enjoy  the  festivities  of 
this  grand  memorial  day  in  honor  of  the  early  settlement  of  this 
town.  And  in  behalf  of  the  absent  sons  and  daughters  of  Peter- 
borough, whose  homes  are  scattered  far  and  wide ;  in  the  great  and 
busy  cities  of  the  west ;  on  its  grand  and  fertile  prairies ;  on  the 
old  Pacific's  slope ;  yes,  wherever  in  this  grand  country  of  ours 
there  is  push  and  enterprise,  there  you  will  find  the  grand  old 
blood  of  Peterborough.  The  magnificent  pageant  of  the  morning, 
as  it  passed  through  your  streets  representing  your  numerous  in- 
dustries, most  surely  tell  of  your  prosperity,  and  that  Peterborough 
to-day  is  not  by  any  means  on  the  decline,  but  in  fact  was  at  no 
period  in  its  history  so  prosperous  as  to-day.  Be  assured,  un- 
friends, those  absent  sons  and  daughters  whose  homes  are  far 
away,  could  they  have  witnessed  it  and  mingled  with  you  in  this 
festive  occasion,  would  have  most  truly  been  proud  of  the  success 
of  old  Peterborough,  the  home  of  their  childhood  days. 

The  old  mountains  which  have  so  fondly  encircled  your  pleasant 
valley,  and  'stood  like  the  grand  old  guardians  of  your  homes  and 


67 

interests,  are  there  to-day  without  one  moment  of  relief.  They 
seem  to  have  grown  old,  but  they  are  faithful  to  duty  yet.  Your 
hills  look  barren,  and  the  old  rocks  even  seem  to  have  grown  gray, 
but  the  old  Contoocook,  with  its  tributaries,  as  they  haste  along  to 
the  old  Merrimac,  have  given  golden  opportunities  for  manufac- 
turing, which  has  been,  and  is  to-day  more  than  ever  in  the  past, 
the  grand  success  of  old  New  England. 

As  we  stand  here  to-day  and  cast  back  in  memory  over  the  past, 
how  great  the  changes.  Those  noble  men  and  women,  the  found- 
ers of  the  progress  we  here  see  on  every  hand  are  gone,  but  their 
grand  worth,  their  unselfish  lives,  their  determined  purpose  laid  the 
noble  foundation  on  which  rests  to-day  a  civilization  such  as  the 
world  before  has  never  seen.  We  stand  to-day  with  uncovered 
heads  beside  their  graves.  And  proud  are  we  to  be  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  such  noble  parents ;  and  we  can  truly  say  blessed  in- 
deed of  God  are  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Peterborough.  We  find 
by  the  records  of  the  town  that  while  the  sons  of  Peterborough 
have  been  active  in  the  development  of  the  town,  they  have  never 
failed  to  do  their  duty  in  the  welfare  of  their  country.  Although 
reared  and  schooled  in  the  arts  of  peace,  when  war  with  its  cruel 
work  of  destruction  came,  Peterborough  never  faltered  in  her  duty. 
The  old  French  and  Indian  war  found  many  a  true  soldier  among 
the  sons  of  Peterborough.  And  when  the  war  of  the  revolution 
came  the  sons  of  Peterborough  were  found  at  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord, at  Bunker  Hill,  at  Bennington  and  Saratoga.  And  the  moth- 
ers said  to  their  husbands  and  brothers,  "Go,  and  die  if  need  be, 
that  your  county  may  live."  Such  were  the  characters,  and  of  such 
material  were  the  fathers  of  Peterborough  made  whose  memory  we 
have  met  to-day  to,  honor.  Well  may  we  pause  for  one  day  in  the 
busy  work  of  life,  and  thank  God  while  we  rear  a  tablet  to  their 
memory.  And  in  later  years,  when  the  great  war  of  the  rebellion 
carne,  when  treason  and  secession  turned  her  guns  on  old  Suinter, 
and  tore  down  the  dear  old  flag  which  our  fathers  bore  thro  ugh  such 
hardships  and  trials  with  unfaltering  faith,  its  thunders  were  heard 
by  the  sons  of  Peterborough,  and  like  the  minute  men  of  the  olden 
time  the  sons  of  Peterborough  left  the  shop,  the  mill  and  the  farm. 
Yes,  and  gave  their  lives  that  the  dear  old  flag  might  still  wave  as 
in  the  days  of  the  fathers.  Yes,  citizens  of  Peterborough,  as  we 
stand  here  to-day  with  uncovered  heads  in  solemn  memory  of  the 
past,  and  rear  a  tablet  that  shall  tell  to  generations  yet  to  come, 
how  the  fathers  and  mothers  laid  the  foundation  of  this  grand  civ- 
ilization, under  God  Almighty's  inspiration,  that  to-day  is  the 
wonder  and  admiration  of  the  world,  let  us  devoutly  thank  him 
for  these  treasures  which  are  above  price. 

And  now,  citizens  of  Peterborough,  aiid  friends,  in  behalf  of 
the  absent  ones,  I  sincerely  thank  you  for  your  most  cordial  invi- 
tation, through  your  committee,  to  attend  this  grand  festival,  and 


68 

may  the  richest  of  heaven's  blessings  be  ever  yours.  And  let  me 
assure  you  these  words  only  express  faintly  the  good  wishes  of  the 
absent  ones  for  your  weal  in  all  the  avenues  of  life.  And  when  we 
and  you  are  done  with  earth,  may  we  all  meet  in  that  great  festal 
throng  which  is  beyond  the  shores  of  time,  to  spend  an  eternity 
through  Christ  our  great  redeemer,  where  sorrow  will  never  come. 
May  God  bless  you  all. 

The  Chairman : 

Mu.  PRESIDENT  : — We  are  fortunate  to-day  in  having  with  us  in 
the  person  of  Miss  Betsey  Follansbee,  the  oldest  living  member  of 
the  choir  who  sang  to  us  fifty  years  ago  on  the  occasion  of  Peterbo- 
rough's centennial.  I  will  now  read  a  letter  from  a  younger  mem- 
ber of  that  choir,  now  living  in  St.  Helena,  Cal. 

ST.  HELENA,  CAL.,  OCTOBER  16,  1889. 

GEO.  H.  LONGLEY,  Chairman  of  Choir  Committee — Dear  Sir: — I 
read  in  the  Transcript  an ,  invitation  for  all  members  of  the  choir 
of  1839  to  be  present  Oct.  24,  1889.  I  sincerely  regret  that  it  is 
not  possible  for  rne  to  be  with  you  on  that  occasion.  I  think  I  am 
correct  in  representing  myself  the  youngest  member  of  that  choir. 

It  would  give  me  real  pleasure  to  meet  the  remnant  of  that  nu- 
merous body  of  fifty  years  ago,  and  join  them  in  singing  some  of 
the  old  songs  that  were  sung  on  that  occasion.  Sad  must  be  the 
reflection  of  many  that  may  participate  in  your  celebration,  as 
they  look  over  the  assembly  and  miss  the  f amiliar  faces  of  the  silver 
haired  Abbot,  Payson,  Smith,  Steele,  Moore,  Miller,  Ames,  Scott 
and  others — aye,  and  many  of  the  sons  of  those  sires,  who  were 
then  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  in  their  places  behold  faces  un- 
known to  that  time.  Fifty  years  hence  the  children  of  to-day  will 
be  the  old  men  with  silvered  hair. 

It  has  been  my  fortune  to  see  much  of  the  beauty  and  grandeur 
of  scenery  of  both  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  slopes.  I  now  reside  in 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  valleys  of  California,  but  no  view  could 
be  dearer  to  my  sight  than  that  of  grand  Monadnock,  or  the  clear, 
rippling  waters  of  the  Contoocook,  or  Nubanusit.  For  romantic 
scenery,  Peterborough  ranks  with  the  best  of  our  country. 

Hoping  that  all  who  celebrate  1889  may  live  to  celebrate  1939,  I 
send  greetings  to  all  who  remember 

SOPHRONIA  SCOTT  ALLYN. 

Response  by  choir. 

The  Chairman : 

FELLOW  CITIZENS: — New  Hampshire  is  honored  to-day  in  the 
fact  that  her  sons  are  sought  for  to  hold  positions  of  responsibility 
and  honor  throughout  the  republic.  The  great  State  of  Massachu- 
setts in  the  political  contest  now  before  her  people,  places  at  the 
head  of  her  ticket  for  the  ofiices  of  governor  and  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor the  names  of  New  Hampshire  born  men.  Peterborough  has 
done  her  full  share  in  producing  men  who  have  filled  honorable 
stations  in  the  nation.  We  are  fortunate  to-day  in  the  presence  of 
one,  who,  not  born  here  in  town,  received  most  of  his  early  train- 
ing among  us,  and  who  for  many  years  was  connected  with  the 


69 

manufacturing  interests  of  the  town  and  deeply  interested  in  its 
growth  and  prosperity ;  one  whom  the  citizens  of  this,  his  native 
State,  thought  good  enough  to  twice  elect  to  the  office  of  chief 
magistrate.  Allow  me  to  introduce  Ex-Governor  P.  C.  Cheney  of 
Manchester,  N.  H. 

MR.  PRESIDENT — LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN: — I  thank  my  friend, 
the  toastmaster,  for  this  kindly  introduction,  and  thank  you  all  for 
this  cordial  greeting.  A  few  days  ago,  I  was  notified  that  upon 
this  occasion  I  would  be  called  upon  for  a  five  or  ten  minutes' 
speech,  and  that  I  might  select  my  own  subject.  You  all  know 
that  "impromptu  speeches"  are  as  a  rule,  carefully  written  out  and 
committed  to  memory.  The  constant  and  pressing  demand  upon 
my  time  has  prevented  any  attempt  on  my  part  to  observe  this  cus- 
tom, so  I  come  before  you  with  simple  "jottings,"  which  are  more 
in  the  nature  of  personal  recollections  regarding  the  events  which 
were  so  notable  here  fifty  years  ago. 

Although  but  eleven  years  of  age,  recollections  of  the  incidents 
connected  with  them  are  as  fresh  in  my  memory  as  if  of  recent  oc- 
currence. Too  young  to  be  of  service,  yet  I  was  old  enough  to  be 
an  interested  observer  of  much  that  transpired,  and  large  enough, 
I  doubt  not,  to  be  at  times  considerably  in  the  way ;  but  I  remem- 
ber that  my  cup  of  happiness  was  full,  and  that  nothing  occurred 
to  mar  the  pleasure  of  the  day.  On  the  street,  in  front  of  the 
church  where  the  exercises  were  held,  the  late  A.  D.  Whitcomb, 
Esq.,  of  Hancock,  the  late  Charles  G.  Cheney,  my  brother,  and  my- 
self, witnessed  the  imposing  procession,  listened  to  the  martial 
strains  of  music,  and  watched  with  eager  eyes  the  steady  marching 
of  the  Peterborough  Guards,  Capt.  Oliver,  and  the  Peterborough 
Light  Infantry,  Capt.  Samuel  R.  Miller.  Their  uniforms  were 
attractive,  and  to  us  as  boys,  dazzling. 

I  remember  that  I  took  a  special  interest  in  the  Peterborough 
Guards,  for  it  was  a  new  company,  comparatively.  My  uncle,  the 
late  A.  P.  Morrison,  was  one  of  the  line  officers,  and  I  was  fre- 
quently drafted  into  service  to  do  errands,  and  allowed  to  assist  in 
making  cartridges  for  sham  fights  at  the  annual  musters,  and  help 
unbox  and  brush  up  the  "trappings"  for  May  trainings. 

I  remember  well  that  the  church  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity, 
including  a  large  number  of  the  more  immediate  descendants  of 
the  early  settlers  of  this  goodly  town  of  Peterborough.  I  remem- 
ber well  the  long  list  of  names  of  these  settlers,  conspicuously  ar- 
ranged on  the  walls  of  the  church,  that  they  might  the  more  emphat- 
ically be  honored  by  the  vast  audience.  It  was  here  that  I  first  list- 
ened to  the  distinguished  and  honored  gentleman  who  delivered  the 
centennial  address,  and,  Mr.  President,  I  still  have  in  mind  the  im- 
pression made  upon  me  by  the  orator,  and  I  trust  you  will  pardon 
me  for  saying  in  this  presence,  that  his  fifty  years  of  a  conspicuous- 


70 

ly  Christian  life  since  then,  has  only  been  in  confirmation  of  my  boy- 
hood remembrance. 

This  highest  type  of  manhood  and  moral  excellence,  which  has 
been  so  helpful  to  all  who  have  come  within  its  influence,  affords  a 
striking  illustration  of  the  divine  attributes  in  man,  mingling  with 
his  fellow  men,  leading  them  onward  and  upward. 

I  also  recall  to  mind  the  speech  of  Capt.  Oliver,  speaking  for 
the  citizen  soldiery.  I  suppose  that  what  marked  this  particularly 
upon  my  mind,  was  my  great  interest  in  the  company. 

A  sentence  of  this  speech  relative  to  the  future  of  our  country 
seems  almost  prophetic,  and  is  worthy  of  being  reproduced  here. 
He  says:  "Our  country  is  destined  to  grow  on  to  fill  the  valley  of 
the  Mississippi,  to  spread  itself  along  the  Red  River,  the  Arkansas, 
the  Missouri;  climb  the  Rocky  Mountains,  descend  upon  the  Col- 
umbia and  overspread  the  shores  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  with  a  hun- 
dred millions  of  human  beings,  as  free  and  independent  as  our- 
selves." Since  these  words  were  uttered,  our  country,  through  the 
precious  blood  of  her  citizen  soldiery,  has  laid  aside  her  shackles  and 
become  free  in  reality. 

Her  population  has  increased  from  seventeen  to  sixty-five  mil- 
lions of  people,  and  upon  the  Pacific  slope  she  has  a  single  city  with 
300,000  inhabitants.  She  has  been  put  to  a  crucial  test,  such  as  no 
other  government  on  the  face  of  the  earth  has  ever  been  subjected 
to,  and  emerged  from  it  in  all  the  glory  and  pride  of  a  great  re- 
public, which  had  for  its  foundation-stone  equal  rights  for  all. 

Other  speeches,  too,  I  remember,  notably  those  of  Dr.  Smith, 
Captain  Scott,  and  Gen.  Wilson,  names  that  will,  to  the  latest  gen- 
eration, be  esteemed,  beloved  and  honored.  It  is  indeed  fitting 
that  a  tribute  of  respect  should  at  this  time  be  paid  to  the  memory 
of  all  the  men  who  reflected  so  much  credit  on  the  town  at  the  close 
of  the  first  century  of  its  settlement.  If  the  young  men  and  boys 
who  are  present  to-day,  and  who  are  to  be  the  future  custodians 
of  the  town's  "good  name"  and  honor,  and  who,  with  others,  are 
to  conduct  the  exercises  of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary,  will  see 
to  it  that  in  their  intellectual  attainments  and  moral  worth  they  are 
equally  meritorious  as  were  those  of  the  first,  you  may  be  assured  that 
you  will  leave  to  the  succeeding  generations  the  historical  records 
of  the  town,  as  having  reflected  credit  and  distinction  upon  the  de- 
scendants and  successors  of  the  town's  earlier  settlers. 

Mr.  President,  referring  more  particularly  to  our  own  connec- 
tion with  the  events  which  have  become  a  matter  of  record  within 
the  last  fifty  years,  I  can  but  recall  them  with  a  feeling  of  sadness, 
for  within  that  time,  of  the  many  who  were  here  then,  but  few  are 
left;  wise  as  we  believe  the  rulings  of  Providence,  yet  the  hours 
of  excessive  sorrow,  which  have  come  to  those  who  still  remain, 
have  made  the  burdens  and  trials  of  life  seem  at  times  almost  over- 
powering, but  their  enduring  faith,  their  exalted  hope,  and  implic- 


71 

it  trust  that  finally  all  would  be  overruled  for  good,  has  carried 
them  safely  along,  with  the  hope  that  the  few  years  left  to  them 
here  may  be  the  more  fitting  for  the  life  beyond. 

The  treasured  dead  we  have  in  our  memory,  and  we  are  not  un- 
mindful of  how  important  and  helpful  was  their  life  work,  while 
here.  To  them  may  much  be  ascribed,  through  which  the  town 
has  been  so  notably  honored  and  given  such  prominence  among  her 
sister  towns.  No  people  were  ever  more  keenly  alive  to  a  sense  of 
honor,  more  loyal  to  their  government,  or  more  liberal  and  chari- 
table in  their  dealings  with  their  fellow  men  than  the  citizens  of 
Peterborough.  Their  aim  and  purpose  have  been  progressive  in 
advancing  the  public  interest  in  sustaining  the  nation's  honor;  nor 
have  they  been  forgetful  of  their  own  honor  in  not  caring  for  their 
heroic  dead.  The  artistic  and  simple  shaft  which  you  have  erected 
by  the  shore  of  your  beautiful  river,  marks  well  your  affection,  as 
well  as  your  purpose,  to  ever  hold  them  in  tender  recollection. 
The  present  indebtedness  of  the  town  may  also  well  be  cited  in 
this  connection,  for  it  is  composed  largely  of  your  war  tax  to  save 
your  government,  and  your  contributions  to  ensure  first-class  rail- 
road facilities  to  your  business  men. 

The  interest  in  your  public  library,  your  public  schools,  your 
churches,  and  all  that  goes  to  mark  the  character  of  the  people  as 
progressive,  is  everywhere  observant,  and  as  citizens  you  may  well 
be  proud  of  the  commanding  position  of  your  town.  Those  of  us 
who  were  long  so  closely  associated  with  you,  but  called  to  other 
fields,  have  not  forgotten  their  old  time  friends,  nor  allowed  their 
love  and  affection  to  become  extinct  by  the  more  imperative  de- 
mands made  upon  them  in  a  more  extended  sphere  of  action. 
With  you  they  have  a  common  feeling  of  pride  in  all  that  redounds 
to  the  glory  and  fame  of  the  town.  Speaking  for  myself  person- 
ally, I  may  say  that  the  thirty-two  years,  during  which  this  was 
my  home,  and  which  included  my  boyhood  days,  my  youth,  and 
my  early  manhood,  receiving  as  I  did  from  her  people  their  un- 
bounded confidence  and  friendship,  I  have  ever  been  loath  to  sever 
my  connection  entirely  with  you. 

I  have  found  pleasure  in  retaining  my  membership  with  your  lodg- 
es, and  declining1  to  sell  my  pew  in  the  church  where  I  was  wont 
to  worship.  This  last  reference  calls  to  mind  many  incidents  well 
known  to  many  of  you,  and  some  of  them  were  of  a  mirthful 
class,  but  which  I  suppose  are  well  nigh  forgotten.  Want  of  time 
will  not  allow  them  to  be  introduced  here  to  any  extent,  but  there 
is  one  so  brief,  so  apt  and  withal  so  characteristeric,  that  I  will 
venture  to  repeat  it. 

The  time  and  place  was  the  Unitarian  church  under  the  pastor- 
ship of  the  scholarly  Rev.  Dr.  Robinson.  The  janitor  or  sexton  of 
the  church  was  our  old  friend,  Mr.  Joseph  Cram.  A  furious, 
blinding,  long  continued  snow  storm,  had  culminated  upon  a  Sab- 


72 

bath  morning-,  and  the  roads  and  streets  were  impassible.  The 
sexton  shoveled  his  way  to  the  church,  lighted  his  fires,  and  rang 
the  first  bell.  No  one  appeared  in  response,  yet  at  the  given  time 
he  tolled  the  bell  for  the  commencement  of  the  service.  Just  as 
he  had  finished  the  minister  appeared,  nearly  exhausted  by  his  ef- 
forts to  get  there.  He  eagerly  inquired  if  there  were  many  people 
there.  "Not  anybody,"  replied  the  sexton,  "but  you  and  I,  and 
we  would  not  be  here  if  we  were  not  paid  for  it."  The  minister 
was  110  longer  serious,  but  found  his  way  back  home  with  his  ser- 
mon, and  so  greatly  amused  as  to  relate  the  witty  and  sly  retort  to 
his  many  friends. 

But,  Mr.  President,  I  have  used  up  my  allotted  time,  and  I  will 
close  with  my  thanks  for  your  attention. 

The  Chairman : 

MR.  PRESIDENT: — Kecognizing  the  prominence  of  the  name  of 
Smith  as  connected  with  the  past  history  of  Peterborough,  I  ad- 
dressed a  note  to  the  Hon.  Jeremiah  Smith  of  Dover,  N.  H.,  a  dis- 
tinguished representative  of  that  honored  name,  inviting  him  to  be 
present  to-day  and  favor  you  with  a  short  address.  We  are  hon- 
ored by  his  presence,  but  his  health  will  not  permit  him  to  address 
you.  I  will  therefore  call  upon  Jonathan  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Clinton, 
Mass.,  who  will  speak  to  the  sentiment, 

"THE  SMITHS  OF  PETERBOROUGH." 

MR.  PRESIDENT  AND  FELLOW  CITIZENS  OF  PETERBOROUGH: — I 
must  ask  your  indulgence  in  declining  to  make  any  extended  allu- 
sion to  the  family  to  which  I  belong.  The  presence  here  this  af- 
ternoon of  its  most  distinguished  living  representative,  whose 
health  and  modesty  (a  prominent  trait,  by  the  way,  of  all  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  Peterborough),  prevent  his  describing  to  you  their 
characters,  and  the  prominent  parts  they  had  in  the  early  history 
of  the  town,  renders  the  task  a  more  appropriate  one  for  him  than 
myself.  But  the  kindly  introduction  of  your  chairman  calls  to 
mind  one  feature  of  the  history  of  Peterborough  which  deserves  a 
stronger  emphasis  in  these  exercises  than  it  has  yet  received,  illus- 
trating as  it  does  the  character  of  the  early  settlers  and  their  de- 
scendants, and  the  kind  of  men  they  were  and  we  know  are  still. 
To  the  student  of  our  local  history  no  chapter  is  more  interesting 
or  suggestive  than  that  which  relates  to  our  military  annals.  It 
opens  within  six  years  from  the  first  permanent  settlement  of  the 
town,  and  closes  at  a  period  within  the  memory  of  nearly  all  pres- 
ent. It  is  interesting  in  view  of  the  number  of  soldiers  the  town  has 
furnished  for  the  different  wars,  the  hardships  they  endured  and  the 
sacrifices  they  freely  made  for  the  different  causes  they  defended. 
It  is  also  suggestive  of  many  thoughts  in  light  of  the  fact  that  every 
war  in  which  the  town  has  taken  an  active  part  was  waged  for  the 


73 

defense  or  preservation  of  religious  freedom  and  the  institutions 
of  civil  liberty.  The  war  with  Mexico,  a  causeless  quarrel  with  a 
weak  neighbor,  struck  no  sympathetic  cord  in  the  hearts  of  her 
people.  It  is  not  known  that  a  single  citizen  of  the  town  served  in 
the  armies  of  Generals  Scott  or  Taylor.  The  contest  with  Great 
Britain  in  1812  did  not  draw  a  single  man,  with  one  exception, 
into  active  service.  Twenty-three,  when  a  draft  was  imminent, 
volunteered  for  the  defense  of  Portsmouth  to  protect  that 
place  from  foreign  invasion,  but  not  a  man  was  injured  and  not 
one  marched  beyond  the  borders  of  the  State.  The  early  settlers 
of  the  town,  any  more  than  their  descendants  in  1861,  were  no 
lovers  of  strife.  Military  achievements  and  glory  had  no  attrac- 
tions for  them.  They  had  fled  from  wars  and  persecutions  in  the 
old  country  to  seek  peace  and  quiet,  under  liberty,  upon  these 
western  shores.  For  their  conscience  sake,  and  to  enjoy  the  bless- 
ings of  freedom  in  their  own  way,  they  came  here  to  clear  the  for- 
ests and  build  their  homes,  and  for  these  they  braved  the  rig- 
ors of  a  severe  climate,  and  bore  all  the  privations  incident  to  a 
frontier  life  in  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness.  Peaceful  inen,. 
loving  peaceful  pursuits,  they  were  yet  men  of  the  truest  courage. 
Theirs  was  not  a  mere  physical  courage,  born  of  a  strong  hand  and 
clear  head;  it  was  rather  a  sacred  courage,  born  of  a  strong  hand 
and  a  vigorous  understanding  united  to  a  humble,  tender  and 
loving  heart.  "A  good  believing,  strong  minded  man  for  a  new 
settler,"  John  Brown  once  said,  "is  worth  a  thousand  men  without 
character."  It  is  a  faithful  description  of  the  founders  of  Peter- 
borough. It  was  their  consistent,  upright  characters,  joined  to 
their  fearless  lives,  which  early  gave  right  direction  to  the  town, 
and  which  stamped  their  impress  upon  the  people  for  all  time. 

The  infant  colony  was  fortunate  in  this,  that  it  was  never  the 
victim  of  an  Indian  massacre.  Yet  the  savage  foe  was  all  about 
it,  and  for  years  the  settlers  literally  slept  upon  their  arms  in 
hourly  fear  of  attack.  It  was  the  irony  of  fate  that  they  came  so 
far  and  braved  so  much  for  the  sake  of  peace  and  quiet,  that  they 
should  find  themselves  in  their  new  homes  in  the  midst  of  dangers 
greater  and  more  dreaded  than  any  they  had  left  behind.  Ifiit 
kept  alive  in  their  minds  a  familiarity  with  the  scenes  and  suffer- 
ings of  war,  it  also  intensified  their  loyalty  to  those  great  princi- 
ples of  civil  and  religious  liberty  which  they  came  hero  to  plant 
and  to  enjoy. 

In  the  war  of  1755,  a  contest  between  the  civilization  of  France 
and  the  civilization  of  England  for  supremacy  on  this  continent, 
they  recognized  the  issue  and  cheerfully  did  their  full  part.  The 
settlement  was  hardly  six  years  old,  yet  at  the  close  of  that  bloody 
struggle  in  1759,  though  the  whole  male  population  between  Ifi  and 
and  00  years,  able  bodied  and  otherwise,  was  barely  eighty  por- 
tions, the  town  had  furnished  thirty-six  men  for  the  army,  of  whom 


74 

fourteen -had  been  killed  or  died  in  camp.  Probably  more  than 
one-half  of  those  fit  for  military  duty  and  of  military  age  had 
entered  the  service,  and  25  per  cent,  had  perished.  Only  those 
here  to-day  familiar  with  war  and  all  it  means  can  imagine  the 
privations  those  soldiers  endured  in  their  long  marches  through 
unbroken  forests;  with  rations  poor,  meagre  and  uncertain  of  sup- 
ply ;  in  hourly  peril  of  the  deadly  ambush  by  cruel  and  wily  foes; 
with  no  agent  of  the  sanitary  commission  or  ministering  angel  of 
the  Red  Cross  at  their  elbows  to  catch  them  as  they  fell  by  hostile 
bullet  or  deadly  disease,  bear  them  tenderly  away  to  comfortable 
and  well  furnished  hospitals,  minister  to  their  wants  and  soothe 
their  sufferings.  But  well  knowing  all  this  they  did  not  shrink ; 
the  hardships  and  the  perils  of  that  war  neither  abated  their  pat- 
riotism nor  cooled  their  ardor  for  the  colonial  cause.  The  town 
furnished  its  full  quota  of  men  and  had  its  representatives  in  every 
campaign  from  1755  to  the  fall  of  Quebec  in  1759.  When,  sixteen 
years  later,  the  war  with  the  mother  country  came,  appealing  as  it 
did  to  their  strong  love  for  these  homes  which  they  had  planted 
here  at  the  expense  of  so  much  sorrow  and  toil,  and  to  their  broad- 
er and  more  comprehensive  ideas  of  local  self  government,  taxa- 
tion by  consent  only,  and  freedom  from  irresponsible  kingly  au- 
thority, they  entered  zealously  into  it.  It  was  hardly  light  on  the 
morning  of  April  19th,  1775,  when  a  tired  horseman  aroused  Capt. 
Robert  Wilson  at  his  residence  on  the  Street  Road,  a  few  rods  up 
the  hill  south  of  the  Wilson  corner,  with  the  news  that  the  British 
troops  were  leaving  Boston  on  an  expedition  into  the  country. 
"Before  noon  of  that  day,"  says  the  old  chronicle,  "every  able 
bodied  man  in  town  was  on  the  march  to  the  relief  of  their  breth- 
ren at  Concord  and  Lexington."  Seventeen  soldiers  of  the  town 
fought  at  Bunker  Hill,  of  whom  four  were  wounded.  Twenty- 
five  took  part  in  the  campaign  against  Burgoyne,  and  from  first  to 
last  one  hundred  and  forty-five  different  men  served  in  the  army — 
one  out  of  every  five  of  the  whole  population. 

Nearly  every  able  bodied  man  of  military  age  must  in  course  of 
the  war,  have  entered  the  service.  Nothing  suggests  to  the  mind 
so  vividly  the  severity  of  that  conflict,  the  terrible  drain  it  was 
upon  the  resources  of  the  town,  or  the  stern,  unflinching  devotion 
of  the  fathers  to  the  ideas  and  principles  which  underlay  the  revo- 
lutionary war,  as  this  one  fact.  We  must  remember,  too,  that  ag- 
riculture was  the  only  industry;  that  there  was  no  money  for 
taxes;  that  the  currency  was  fluctuating  and  often  worthless; 
that  in  addition  to  the  constant  drain  of  men  the  town  had  to  fur- 
nish its  quota  of  beef  and  other  supplies  for  the  army  in  the  field ; 
the  people  were  poor,  had  nothing  but  their  land,  barely  cleared 
of  trees,  rocky  and  sterile,  from  which  to  support  themselves  and 
fill  their  contributions  for  the  public  service.  Only  a  brave,  con- 
scientious and  determined  people,  fighting  for  a  righteous  cause, 


75 

can  for  eight  long  weary  years  carry  on  such  war  and  bear  its  bur- 
dens. And  we  may  well  suppose  that  when  the  victory  was  finally 
won  and  they  had  gained  all  for  which  they  had  contended,  they 
counted  it  all  as  joy  that  they  had  dared  and  sacrificed  so  much, 
and  that  the  principles  for  which  they  had  contended  were  more 
lovingly  cherished  for  the  price  they  had  paid  for  them. 

Only  one  other  military  event,  since  the  revolution,  has  touched 
the  town  in  a  manner  to  test  the  patriotism  of  its  people  and  try 
their  patience  and  courage.  I  need  not  name  it — it  is  fresh  in  the 
minds  of  all.  In  1861  not  one  of  the  revolutionary  soldiers  or  cit- 
izens was  living.  A  few  of  the  veterans  of  1812  remained,  objects 
of  peculiar  veneration  and  respect  to  the  young  men  of  twenty- 
eight  years  ago.  The  town  knew  nothing  of  war  or  of  the  hard- 
ships and  sufferings  that  come  with  it.  The  people  were  absorbed 
in  business,  taking  deep  interest  in  the  questions  out  of  which  the 
rebellion  finally  grew,  but  no  more  anticipating  an  armed  conflict 
with  the  South  than  we  are  to-day.  The  great  awakening  of  pat- 
riotism which  the  sound  of  the  first  hostile  cannon  produced  will 
never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  witnessed  it.  In  the  space  of  four 
years  the  town  sent  10  per  cent,  of  its  entire  population  into  the 
army,  and  more  than  40  per  cent,  of  its  able  bodied  men  of  mili- 
tary age. 

The  character  of  that  gigantic  struggle,  the  terrible  sacrifices  of 
treasm-e  and  blood,  which  for  four  long  years  the  town,  like  the 
old  priest  of  Israel,  poured  upon  the  country's  altar,  need  no  far- 
ther rehearsal  here  to-day.  After  twenty-five  years  of  peace  and 
unexampled  prosperity,  its  effects  are  still  seen  in  the  scores  of 
feeble  and  battle  scarred  forms  which  daily  walk  your  streets ; 
you  read  them  in  the  records  of  forty-five  of  the  bravest  and  best 
of  your  sons  and  daughters  whose  names  are  written  on  yonder 
monument ;  the  greatness  of  your  sacrifice  comes  back  to  you  upon 
every  returning  Memorial  Day,  when  the  Grand  Army  decks  with 
the  flowers  of  spring  the  graves  of  more  than  fifty  of  their  com- 
rades, who,  since  the  war  have  been  mustered  out  of  all  earthly 
service.  Surely  in  the  presence  of  all  these  memorials  we  may 
well  claim  that  the  spirit  of  the  fathers  descended  upon  their 
children  of  1861.  As  we  recall  their  names  and  deeds,  whether 
they  fell  in  the  deadly  ambush  on  the  shores  of  Lake  George  in 
1758,  or  perished  in  resistance  to  northern  invasion  at  Saratoga  in 
1777,  or  died  on  the  heights  of  Gettysburg,  or  wore  their  lives 
away  in  the  prison  pens  of  Salisbury  and  Andersonville — 

"Our  souls  grow  fine 

With  keen  vibrations  from  the  touch  Divine 
Of  noble  natures  gone." 

We  are  proud  of  their  self  devotion,  their  unflinching  courage, 
and  their  loyalty  to  the  truth.  Such  heroism  and  such  memories 
are  the  richest  heritage  which  cau  descend  to  any  people  in  any 


76 

age,  and  we  may  well  be  grateful  that  our  dear  old  town  has  such 
n  priceless  legacy  of  patriotism  and  self  denial  committed  to  her 
keeping.  May  we,  her  sons  and  daughters,  assembled  here  to  re- 
new our  vows  of  love  and  fealty  to  the  place  of  our  birth,  make 
fresh  resolve  that  the  love  of  country,  and  that  steadfast  loyalty  to 
the  principles  of  right  and  justice  which  the  fathers  so  nobly  ex- 
emplified and  their  children  in  '61  so  bravely  maintained,  shall  de- 
scend to  our  children  and  to  our  children's  children  to  the  remotest 
generation. 

The  Chairman: 

I  will  now  call  upon  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Walbridge  to  respond  to 
the  sentiment, 

"THE  RELIGIOUS  INTERESTS  OF  PETERBOROUGH." 
MR.  PRESIDENT  : — If  the  religious  interests  of  Peterborough  are 
to  be  represented  on  this  interesting  occasion,  it  is  fitting,  perhaps, 
that  the  oldest  settled  pastor,  and  pastor  of  the  oldest  church  in 
this  town  should  speak  for  the  churches. 

Others  have  spoken  of  the  industrial  progress  of  the  town  dur- 
ing the  last  half  century,  of  the  improved  methods  of  agriculture 
and  manufacture,  of  the  new  and  better  educational  facilities 
which  the  town  affords  as  compared  with  those  of  fifty  years  ago. 
We  have  witnessed  a  long  and  imposing  procession,  civic,  military, 
industrial,  representing  the  social,  mechanical  and  commercial  life 
of  the  people.  Show  to  one  who  is  accustomed  to  reckon  only  the 
market  value  of  everthing,  who  measures  all  human  activities  by 
commercial  standards,  I  confess  that  the  work  of  the  churches  may 
appear  very  insignificant  in  the  presence  of  this  grand  display  of 
material  things,  and  these  evidences  of  growth  and  progress.  And 
the  minister  may  be  pardoned  if  he  pauses  for  the  moment  to  ask, 
"Of  what  use  am  I?  What  part  or  lot  has  the  church  in  this  mag- 
nificent display  which  speaks  of  the  industry,  skill,  thrift  and  in- 
telligence of  the  people  of  this  town?" 

The  common  opinion  respecting  all  human  avocations  and  activ- 
ities takes  a  utilitarian  form.  Almost  the  only  mention  which 
people  are  wont  to  ask  concerning  any  proposed  measure  or  pro- 
ject is,  "will  it  pay?"  or  "what  is  it  worth?"  "will  it  provide 
bread  or  shoes,  wine  or  furniture?"  The  plane  of  thought  and 
solicitude  is  a  material  one.  We  want  to  see  all  human  energies 
of  hand,  brain  and  heart  directed  toward  the  creation  of  things 
and  an  increase  of  the  material  resources  of  our  country.  We  are 
prone  in  our  day  to  count  nothing  of  value  which  cannot  be  con- 
verted into  money  or  its  equivalent.  The  glory  of  scientific  dis- 
covery and  mechanical  inventions  is  often  seen  only  in  the  relation 
of  these  to  the  pocket  and  the  larder.  If  a  knowledge  of  chemis- 
try and  electricity  and  the  laws  of  the  universe  will  enable  man  to 
weave  cloth  out  of  grass  and  wood  and  so  clothe  himself  in  gar- 


77 

ments  cheap  and  fine,  or  send  his  message  from  Boston  to  London 
in  the  fraction  of  a  minute,  science  is  a  splendid  thing,  for  it  is 
the  servant  of  man  and  serves  his  material  interests.  Men  are  not 
slow  to  detect  the  outward  value  of  industry  and  inventions,  and 
a  knoweldge  of  mechanics.  But  how  many  minds  perceive  the 
educational  value  of  these  things?  How  many  apprehend  in 
the  slightest  degree  that  all  these  human  activities  have  a  higher 
end  and  are  capable  of  ministering  to  higher  uses,  in  the  education 
of  the  spirit,  the  culture  and  development  of  those  faculties  where- 
by we  perceive  the  wisdom  and  glory  of  God  manifested  in  all  and 
through  all. 

The  progress  of  the  human  race  in  the  past  fifty  years  has  been 
great.  No  age  has  ever  witnessed  such  grand  achievements  in  the 
domain  of  physical  things  as  our  own.  The  power  which  man 
has  acquired  over  the  forces  of  nature  is  indeed  marvellous.  And 
these  discoveries  and  inventions  have  contributed  in  a  large  meas- 
ure towards  an  increase  of  wealth  and  a  multiplication  of  those 
things  which  minister  to  the  physical  comfort  and  material  pros- 
perity of  man.  I  trust  that  you  will  not  understand  me  as  depre- 
ciating these  evidences  of  material  growth  and  prosperity.  I 
would  not  utter  a  single  word  to  detract  from  the  value  of  the 
grand  achievements  of  this  age  and  generation,  or  withhold  my 
poor  tribute  of  admiration  and  praise  for  those  who  have  done  so 
much  to  improve  the  physical  condition  and  advance  the  material 
interests  of  man.  "With  you  I  rejoice  in  what  our  eyes  behold  this 
day.  With  you  I  glory  in  the  industrial  progress  of  a  century  and 
a  half  since  this  town  was  incorporated  whose  close  we  celebrate 
to-day. 

But  in  the  name  of  the  church  I  would  urge  my  plea  for  that 
which  I  conceive  to  be  higher,  better,  holier,  for  that  which  is 
more  essential  to  the  largest,  fullest,  divinest  life  of  the  individu- 
al and  the  race,  and  without  which  no  life  can  attain  to  the  highest 
and  noblest  development  of  all  its  powers. 

It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  great  danger  that  we  may  come  to 
look  upon  these  achievements  of  modern  thought  and  inventive 
genius — the  telegraph  and  the  telephone,  and  all  the  numerous 
contrivances  of  mechanical  ingenuity  and  skill — as  the  only,  or  the 
chief  props  of  our  civilization,  and  so  to  consider  that  man  has 
attained  his  full  stature,  his  greatest  power,  when  he  has  subdued 
the  material  world,  conquered  the  forces  of  nature,  and  made 
them  his  tributaries  to  minister  to  his  physical  needs  and  pour 
gold  into  his  coffers. 

I  would  remind  you  that  a  nation's  strength  docs  not  reside  in 
its  material  riches,  in  its  armies  and  navies,  not  in  the  application 
of  steam  and  electricity  to  mechanical  uses.  It  is  something  far 
more  subtile  and  powerful  and  permanent  than  those  things  which 
make  a  nation  strong  and  insures  it  against  decay.  "These  things 


78 

ought  ye  to  have  done  and  not  to  have  left  the  other  undone."  An 
exclusive  devotion  to  material  interests  may  tend  toward  the 
decay  and  not  the  upbuilding  of  national  and  individual  life. 
History  bears  witness  that  some  of  the  mightiest  civilizations  of 
the  past  have  perished,  not  from  a  lack  of  material  resources — they 
had  bread  enough  and  to  spare.  Gold  and  silver  they  had  in 
abundance.  They  died  of  spiritual  starvation;  because  it  is  writ- 
ten that  "man  shall  not  live  by  bread  alone,"  and  "his  life  cou- 
sisteth  not  in  the  abundance  of  the  things  which  he  possesseth." 

The  apostles  of  science  and  art,  of  learning  and  religion,  the 
great  poets  and  philosophers  and  statesmen  of  the  past,  whose 
names  have  become  household  words  were  men  into  whose  souls 
shone  the  light  of  a  diviner  truth,  a  nobler  ideal  than  is  found  in 
the  pursuit  of  wealth  as  the  end  of  life.  The  ideal  which  went  be- 
fore them  as  a  pillar  of  fire  and  cloud  was  nothing  that  the  eye 
could  see  or  the  hand  grasp.  It  was  the  true,  the  beautiful,  the 
good.  This  is  the  highest,  divinest  philosophy  of  life.  It  is  un- 
der the  inspiration  of  such  a  spirit  that  beauty,  chivalry,  love,  and 
all  the  sublimest  virtues  flourish  and  increase. 

And  this  is  the  function  of  the  church — to  keep  before  men  the 
higher  ideal  of  life ;  to  charm  the  soul  upward ;  to  woo  and  win 
man  from  the  worship  of  Mammon  to  the  love  of  rightousness, 
from  the  gratification  of  sensual  appetites  and  desires  to  the  life 
of  the  spirit,  to  remind  him  that  he  is  not  wholly  of  "the  earth 
earthy,"  but  a  living  soul,  a  child  of  God,  and  heir  to  incorrupti- 
ble riches,  and  if  mankind  ever  rises  above  the  animal  and  gains 
a  complete  victory  over  the  baser  passions  and  propensities  of  his 
nature;  if  he  is  to  become  something  more  than  a  calculating  ma- 
chine or  a  mere  pleasure  seeker ;  if  the  moral  and  spiritual  senti- 
ments are  to  be  enthroned  over  the  merely  animal  desii'es,  it  will 
be  largely  due  to  the  power  and  influence  of  the  Christian  church. 
It  is  not  the  business  of  the  church  to  create  things  but  to  train 
men,  to  form  character.  Theodore  Parker  said  that  "the  highest 
function  of  a  nation  is  to  bring  forth  and  bring  up  noble  men  and 
women."  The  fairest  fruit  which  the  people  of  any  town  can 
show  is  not  the  product  of  its  farms  and  forges,  its  looms  and 
workshops,  but  the  high  characters,  intellectual,  moral  and  relig- 
ious, of  its  men  and  women.  And  this  must  always  be  the  true 
test  of  progress,  viz. :  What  sort  of  men  and  women  are  bred  and 
reared?  If  they  be  lacking  in  those  qualities  which  alone  can  give 
worth  and  dignity  and  glory  to  manhood  and  womanhood  it  is  in 
vain  to  boast  of  the  crops  we  raise,  the  shoes  we  make,  the  cloth 
we  weave.  If  our  modern  civilization  bears  not  a  higher  and  bet- 
ter type  of  men  and  women  than  was  born  and  bred  in  the  past, 
then  we  may  well  consider  whether  we  have  made  progress  in  what 
is  most  vital  to  the  strength  and  integrity  of  the  commonwealth. 
Toward  this  supreme  end  and  aim  of  life  it  will  be  found,  I  think, 


79 

that  the  church  has  contributed  not  a  little.  And  so  we  may  justly 
feel  that  in  everything  that  has  contributed  to  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  our  town  in  what  is  essential  and  of  permanent 
value,  the  churches  have  not  been  found  wanting.  They  have 
done  their  part,  and  will  so  continue  in  the  future  to  labor  for 
what  is  highest  and  best. 

The  Chairman: 

I  have  here  a  letter  from  a  native  of  Peterborough,  Prof.  N.  H. 
Morison,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  the  author  of  the  fine  poem  to  which 
you  have  this  day  listened,  and  whose  annual  return  to  his  sum- 
mer home  among  us  we  so  much  welcome,  which  I  will  now  read : 

20  W.  MADISON  ST.,  BALTIMORE,  MD.,  OCT.  20,  1889. 

F.  G.  CLARKE,  ESQ.,  CHAIRMAN.  DEAR  SIR: — I  find,  as  I  antic- 
ipated, that  neither  my  occupations  nor  my  health  will  permit  me 
to  make  a  journey  to  Peterborough  for  the  celebration.  I  regret 
this  the  more,  as  it  is  probably  the  last  important  occasion  at  whicli 
I  shall  be  able  to  take  a  part  in  the  town's  proceedings.  The  fam- 
ily will  be  well  represented  by  my  brother  who  will  read  my 
small  contribution  to  the  occasion  —  a  contribution  which  has 
awakened  in  me  a  stronger  and  a  sadder  feeling  than  is  my  wont, 
as  the  past  came  vividly  before  me  in  the  composition. 

My  youth  in  Peterborough  was  a  happy  one,  my  friends  numer- 
ous and  ardent,  and  the  recollections  of  my  early  life  are  still  most 
agreeable,  but  sad  from  the  entire  loss  of  those  I  best  knew  and 
most  loved.  In  mature  life  we  were  scattered  broad-cast  over  the 
land;  and  most  of  my  friends  have  finished  their  work  and  de- 
parted. "We  a  little  longer  wait,"  but  it  cannot  be  long. 

I  trust  that  the  town  will  maintain  its  old  reputation  for  enter- 
prise and  honesty,  and  that  those  characteristics  which  have  given 
it  a  peculiar  fame  among  its  neighbors  may  never  depart. 
I  am,  my  dear  sir,  yours  very  truly, 

N.  H.  MORISON. 

The  Chairman  announced  that  he  had  received  interesting  letters 
from  absent  sons  and  daughters,  and  the  following  embrace  the 
same: 

MEDINA,  MICH.,  OCT.  17,  1889. 

GENTLEMEN: — Your  card  of  Oct.  7,  inviting  me  to  be  present 
at  the  150th  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  my  native  town  of 
Peterborough  is  received.  I  can  assure  you,  gentlemen,  that  it 
would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  be  present  with  you  on  the  24th 
of  the  present  month  and  participate  in  the  exercises  and  festivi- 
ties of  the  occasion,  and  take  by  the  hand  old  friends,  some  of 
whom  I  have  not  met  for  more  than  fifty  years,  and  may  never 
meet  again,  but  circumstances  beyond  my  control  render  it  impos- 
sible. It  is  pleasant,  after  a  residence  of  fifty-three  years  in  the 
west,  to  be  remembered  by  the  inhabitants  of  my  native  town. 
Eighteen  years  of  my  early  life  were  passed  on  the  old  Moore 
homestead,  and  five  years  in  the  machine  shops  of  Peterborough, 
but  in  all  my  wanderings  I  have  never  had  any  wish  to  deny  the 
fact  that  I  was  born  among  the  granite  hills  of  New  Hampshire, 
or  that  I  was  a  Peterborough  boy.  Your  early  inhabitants  were 
noted  for  their  push  and  enterprise.  The  first  water  loom  and  the 


80 

first  cloth  manufactured  in  New  Hampshire  upon  a  water  loom 
was  manufactured  at  the  old  Bell  Factory  in  Peterborough.  I  look 
with  admiration  on  the  old  men  of  Peterborough  of  seventy  years 
ago.  There  was  something  in  the  bean  porridge  and  brown  bread 
manufactured  by  the  pioneer  mothers  of  Peterborough  that  brought 
their  sons  and  their  daughters  to  the  front.  I  take  no  small  pride 
in  reviewing  the  military  history  of  the  descendants  of  the  pioneer 
fathers  and  mothers  of  Peterborough.  The  battle  of  Brownstown 
made  the  name  of  Gen.  James  Miller  a  household  name  among 
the  native  French  of  Alichigan  when  I  came  here  in  1834.  Every 
school  boy  in  America  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  in  the  Blackhawk  war,  but  few  even  in  Peterborough  may  be 
aware  of  the  fact  that  Cyrus  Felt,  a  Peterborough  boy,  carried  a 
musket  and  served  in  the  same  regiment  and  in  the  same  campaign 
with  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  the  late  war  they  were  among  the  first 
and  the  last  to  put  down  the  Rebellion.  They  were  in  the  first 
Michigan  infantry  that  made  the  first  advance  into  Virginia,  on 
the  24th  of  May,  1861,  and  they  were  present  at  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Lee  and  the  capture  of  Jeff  Davis.  They  served  on  every 
battle  field  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  They  were  with  Grant 
at  Fort  Donelson,  at  Pittsburg  Landing  and  at  Vicksburg;  with 
Thomas  at  Nashville;  with  Rosecrans  at  Stone  river,  and  they 
fought  with  Hooker  among  the  clouds  at  Lookout  mountain,  and 
they  went  with  Sherman  in  his  march  to  the  Sea. 

This  anniversary  brings  to  my  mind  many  pleasing  recollections 
of  my  childhood  and  youth.     I  can  never  forget  my  native  town. 
My  ancestors  for  three  generations  are  buried  there. 
Very  respectfully  yours, 

GEORGE  W.  MOORE. 


No.  1449  MASS.  AVE.,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  17  OCT.,  1889. 

GENTLEMEN: — Your  kind  invitation  to  the  celebration  of  the  24th 
instant,  at  Peterborough,  is  received,  and  I  must  thank  you  for  it, 
though  unable  to  be  present. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  the  exceptional  high  standing  of  your  town 
among  those  of  the  State,  is  most  due  to  the  hardy  Scotch-Irish 
stock  from  Londonderry,  which  formed  the  bulk  of  its  original 
settlers — astock"tvhose  blood,"  in  the  words  of  a  modern  most  em- 
inent statesman,  "has  enriched  all  who  have  had  the  good  fortune 
to  inherit  it."  After  quoting  this  high  euloyium,  I  trust  it  may 
savor  of  pride  alone  and  not  of  vanity,  if  I  add  that  I  find  in  my 
own  pedigree  that  particular  one  of  those  male  pioneers  who  lived, 
I  think,  to  the  most  extreme  old  age — the  first  John  Morrison. 

Among  your  natives,  too,  was  my  wife's  grandfather,  General 
James  Miller,  U.  S.  A.,  of  the  same  Scotch  origin,  whose  charac- 
ter— as  drawn  by  Hawthorne  in  his  celebrated  preface  to  "The 
Scarlet  Letter,"  and  as  exemplified  in  his  life — is  yet  further  evi- 
dence of  the  sterling  quality  of  those  Londonderry  settlers. 

I  was  much  struck  by  the  superb  appearance  of  a  procession  of 
Scotchmen  whom  I  saw  pass  down  School  street  in  Boston  on  the 
29th  of  August  last,  and  I  am  quite  of  the  belief  that  no  more  dis- 
tinguished type  of  manly  beauty  can  be  found  in  Europe  or  Amer- 
ica, than  among  the  Scotch  and  their  descendants. 

I  often  had  occasion  to  consult  your  excellent  "History  of  Pe- 
terborough" when  preparing  the  oration  which  I  pronounced  at 
the  centennial  celebration  of  your  neighbor  town  of  Temple,  and 
in  writing  the  history  of  my  native  place.  Its  "genealogies"  were 


81 

quite  full,  I  remember ;    but  if  any  omissions  occurred,  you  will 
now  have  an  opportunity  to  supply  them  in  the  continued  chroni- 
cle, which  your  new  celebration  will  make  necessary. 
I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  gentlemen, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

HENRY  AMKS  BLOOD. 


DOVER  N.  H.,  OCTOBER  15.  1889. 

DEAR  COL.  SCOTT  : — Your  very  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  Pe- 
terborough Anniversary  has  been  duly  received;  but  I  doubt 
whether  it  will  be  convenient  for  me  to  be  present.  If  I  do  at- 
tend, I  must  ask  to  be  excused  from  speech  making.  The  old 
homestead  will  be  creditably  represented  in  that  line  by  my  cousin 
Jonathan.  Yours  truly, 

JEREMIAH  SMITH. 


BELOIT,  WISCONSIN,  OCTOBER  15,  1889. 

JOSEPH  FARNUM,  &c.  GENTLEMEN  : — I  have  to  thank  your  com- 
mittee for  your  invitation  to  meet  the  citizens  of  Peterborough, 
N.  H.,  on  the  24th  inst.,  when  they  propose  to  celebrate  the  150th 
anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  their  town.  I  regret  that  I  am 
compelled  to  forego  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  you. 

On  February  21st,  1839,  now  more  than  fifty  years  ago,  I  turned 
my  face  towards  the  west.  I  have  a  very  clear  recollection  of 
what  Peterborough  and  her  people  were  then,  and  I  should  like 
very  much  to  see  what  they  are  now,  and  how  they  conduct  their 
public  meetings. 

When  I  was  a  boy,  among  other  of  the  leading  men  in  the  town 
meetings  were  John  H.  Steele,  Stephen  P.  Steele  and  his  uncle 
John  Steele,  and  Wm.  Scott.  Now  they  are  all  sleeping  with  the 
"great  majority."  Fifty  years  is  a  very  long  bridge,  and  on  the 
card  whicn  I  received  there  are  but  three  familiar  names. 

Hon.  Nathaniel  Holmes  was  a  young  man  when  I  was  a  boy ; 
John  Wilder  and  I  were  boys  together,  attending  the  old  No.  1 
school;  A.  A.  Far ns worth,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  used  to  attend 
the  Presbyterian  church,  as  I  myself  did  in  those  days.  The  cler- 
gyman was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Holt,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Pine.  Fifty  years  ago  we  had  no  railroad,  except  one  from 
Boston  to  Lowell.  There  were  no  railroads  in  New  Hampshire. 
We  had  no  daily  papers,  no  telegraph  and  no  telephone,  and  the  cler- 
gymen were  not  preaching  against  the  sin  of  reading  the  Sunday 
newspapers.  In  those  days  we  had  two  long  sermons  every  Sunday . 
I  think  they  were  very  "sound,"  but  the  boys  thought  them  a  little 
tedious.  So  far  as  I  ever  heard  there  was  no  difference  of  opinion 
among  the  boys  on  that  subject.  In  those  days  we  had  no  advanced 
ritual,  there  was  no  difference  between  the  high  and  low  rhurdi  as 
now.  There  was  nothing  in  the  service  to  appeal  to  the  imagina- 
tion or  the  eye.  The  result  was,  that  to  the  young,  it  seemed  a 
little  dry.  I  presume  it  is  different  now. 

I  still  indulge  in  the  hope  that  sometime  I  shall  see  Peterborough 
again,  but  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  be  with  you  on  the  24th  inst. 
Yours  very  sincerely, 

S.  J.  TOI>I>. 


82 

NASHUA,  OCTOBER  22,  1889. 

GENTLKMKN:— I  regret  that  unavoidable  engagements  will  pre- 
vent my  acceptance  of  your  invitation  to  attend  the  celebration  of 
the  l.")<>th  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  town  of  Peterbo- 
rough. 

The  pa*t  history  of  Peterborough  will  compare  favorably  with 
that  of  any  other  town  in  the  State.  The  town  has  been  a  nursery 
of  men  and  women  who  have  gone  forth,  not  only  into  other 
towns  in  New  Hampshire,  but  into  other  states,  to  build  up  and 
improve  the  homes  of  their  adoption.  She  has  sent  forth,  too,  u 
large  number  who  have  made  their  mark  on  the  field  of  battle, 
as  statesmen,  in  the  learned  professions,  and  in  the  varied  walks 
of  life.  She  did  her  part  in  furnishing  soldiers  in  the  war  of  the 
revolution,  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  the  late  war  between  the 
States.  \Vith  other  soldiers  from  the  town,  Capt.  William  Scott 
was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  was  taken  to 
Halifax  as  prisoner  of  war,  but  escaped  after  a  few  months'  con- 
finement, and  was  subsequently  commander  of  a  company  in  Col. 
Jackson's  regiment  in  Massachusetts.  At  Lundy's  Lane,  Col.  Mil- 
ler, on  being  ordered  to  storm  a  British  battery,  replied,  "I'll  try, 
sir,"  and  not  only  captured  and  held  the  position,  but  with  it  seven 
pieces  of  elegant"  brass  cannon,  and  was  thereupon  immediately 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  General.  She  has  contributed  three  gov- 
ernors to  this  State  and  one  to  the  Territory  of  Arkansas.  She  has 
furnished  seven  members  of  congress,  three  judges  of  State  su- 
preme courts — one  of  whom  was  chief  justice,  and  several  pro- 
fessors of  colleges,  as  well  as  a  number  of  accomplished  teachers 
of  the  public  schools  of  the  country. 

Since  the  centennial  celebration  of  the  settlement  of  the  town  in 
1839,  Peterborough  has  made  noteworthy  progress  in  material  and 
industrial  prosperity;  may  those  now  living  and  celebrating  this, 
her  150th  anniversary,  and  who  shall  survive  to  celebrate  her  bi- 
centenary, in  1939,  witness  still  more  remarkable  progress  and 
prosperity,  in  the  comparison  of  the  two  epochs. 
Yours  very  truly, 

B.  B.  WHITTEMOBE. 


HAVERHTLL,  MASS.,  OCTOBER  21,  1889. 

MR.  ANDREW  A.  FARNSWORTH,  COMMITTEE  OF  INVITATION.  DEAR 
SIR: — Your  earnest  and  most  cordial  invitation  to  be  present  and 
participate  in  the  exercises  and  festivities  connected  with  the  cele- 
bration of  the  150th  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town 
of  Peterborough  is  received. 

I  distinctly  remember  as  a  mere  lad  of  sitting  in  the  east  gallery 
of  the  Unitarian  church  on  the  occasion  of  the  100th  anniversary, 
fifty  years  ago,  and  listening  to  the  oration  which  told  of  the  vir- 
tues and  achievements  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town.  Although 
I  do  not  remember  of  seeing  a  report  of  the  exercises  from  that 
day  to  this,  I  recall  one  toast  that  was  given  on  that  occasion  by 
Capt.  Samuel  C.  Oliver,  partly  perhaps  from  its  nature  and  partly, 
it  may  be,  from  the  fact  of  the  author's  residence  being  in  the 
same  section  of  the  town  of  my  own.  It  was  this:  "It's  no  more 
than  fair  that  the  fair  partake  of  our  fare." 

When  my  mind  reverts  to  old  unique  and  historic  Peterborough, 
the  place  of  my  nativitv  and  home  of  my  youth,  around  which 
clusters  so  many  precious  memories  of  early  days,  and  whose 
soil  holds  the  precious  dust  of  my  ancestry,  I  am  reminded  of  the 


83 

words  of  the  psalmist,  "If  I  forget  thee,  O,  Jerusalem,  let  my 
right  hand  forget  her  cunning.  If  I  do  not  remember  thee,  let  my 
tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth,  if  I  prefer  not  Jerusalem 
above  my  chief  joy." 

There  is  one  link  of  association  that  seems  to  bind  the  beautiful 
city  of  my  adoption  to  that  of  my  old  home.  As  I  sit  in  my  office 
my  eyes  rest  on  a  majestic  river,  gliding  along  towards  the  ocean. 
The  little  stream  that  furnishes  power  for  most  of  your  industries 
unites  its  waters  near  the  Capitol  of  your  State  with  the  broader 
Merrimack,  and  as  these  waters  flow  along  past  the  manufacturing 
cities  of  Manchester,  Lowell  and  Lawrence,  it  is  said  that  they 
carry  more  spindles  and  machinery  than  any  other  river  on  the 
globe. 

Allow  me  to  offer  a  sentiment:  "May  the  declining  years  of  the 
old  inhabitants  of  Peterborough,  who  have  'served  their  genera- 
tion by  the  will  of  God'  during  the  last  half  century,  be  as  peace- 
ful as  the  combined  waters  of  the  Contoocook  and  Merrimack  as 
they  enter  the  sea." 

While  expressing  my  deep  regret  for  my  inability  to  be  present 
on  what  must  be  a  most  joyous  occasion,  and  thanking  you  for 
your  kind  invitation,  allow  me  to  reciprocate  by  extending  to  my 
old  townsmen  a  most  hearty  and  cordial  invitation  to  visit  this 
border  city,  the  home  of  Hannah  Duston  and  the  birthplace  of  our 
own  poet  Whittier,  next  summer,  when  we  shall  celebrate  the  250th 
anniversary  of  this  delightful  city. 

Fraternally  yours, 

GEO.  THAYER. 


NASHUA,  N.  H.,  OCTOBER  23,  1889. 

To  JOSEPH  FARNUM,  ESQ.,  AND  OTHERS,  COMMITTEE  OF  INVITA- 
TION. GENTLEMEN  : — When  I  received  your  invitatien  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  celebration  of  the  150th  anniversary  of  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  town  of  Peterborough,  I  fully  intended  to  be  present 
upon  this  most  interesting  occasion,  but  the  serious  illness  of  my 
aged  father  calls  me  to  his  bedside  every  night.  I  must  therefore 
forego  the  pleasure  of  joining  my  friends  and  a  goodly  company 
of  the  distinguished  men  and  women  who  claim  Petei'borough  as 
the  place  of  their  birth  or  residence  during  some  part  of  their  lives. 
Before  I  became  a  resident  of  Peterborough,  in  1858,  I  was  famil- 
iar with  much  of  the  early  history  of  the  town,  and  knew  some- 
thing of  the  services  rendered  by  its  sons,  who  had  shown  them- 
selves most  worthy  descendants  of  the  Londonderry  colony,  both 
in  Church  and  State. 

A  six  years'  residence  among  your  people  made  it  apparent  to 
me  that  the  virtues  of  the  fathers  were  exemplified  in  the  intelli- 
gence, independence  and  good  sense  of  those  who  at  that  time 
were  sustaining  the  good  reputation  of  your  ancient  town.  I  re- 
gret exceedingly  that  I  cannot  be  present  with  you. 
Very  truly  yours, 

GEO.  A.  RAMSDELL. 


SEATTLE,  WASHINGTON,  OCTOBER  18,  1889. 
JOSEPH  FARNUM,  ET  AL.      GENTLEMEN: — Please  accept  sincere 
thanks  for  your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  150th  anniver- 
sary of  the  incorporation  of  dear  old  Peterborough.     While  it  will 


84 


IM'  impossible  for  mo  to  be  with  you  in  person,  I  assure  you  I  shall 
IH>  in  thought,  as  I  ever  hold  dear  my  native  town,  and  shall  ever 
he  interested  in  her  prosperity.  Enclosed  find  $5.00  which  please 
drop  into  the  celebration  fund,  as  I  wish  to  add  my  mite  to  make 
it  a  success.  With  kind  regards,  I  remain, 

Very  truly  yours, 

WILLIS  L.  AMES. 


HURLEY,  DAKOTA,  OCTOBER  18,  1889. 

JOSEPH  FARNUM,  ESQ.,  PETERBOROUGH,  N.  H.,  CHAIRMAN  COM- 
MITTEE OF  INVITATION.  DEAR  SIR: — Your  kind  invitation  to  be 
with  you  on  the  24th  inst.  is  at  hand,  and  duly  noted.  Allow 
me  to  thank  you  for  the  same,  and  express  regrets  at  not  being- 
able  to  be  present  on  an  occasion  of  so  much  interest  to  all  former 
as  well  as  present  residents  of  your  town.  Absent  sons  should  not 
forget  their  mother.  That  the  day  may  be  auspicious,  and  your 
fullest  expectations  regarding  this  Anniversary  be  more  than  real- 
ized, is  the  wish  of  your  former  townsman, 

J.  H.  FARNSWORTH. 


ROYALSTON,  MASS.,  OCTOBER  21,  1889. 

To  COMMITTEE  OF  INVITATION.  GENTLEMEN: — It  was  with  great 
pleasure  and  satisfaction  that  we  received  your  kind  invitation  to 
participate  in  the  exercises  and  festivities  of  the  semi-centennial, 
to  take  place  October  24,  and  due  preparation  was  made  to  be  pres- 
ent, but  an  unexpected  call  to  serve  a  good  cause,  and  allowing  no 
delay,  will  prevent  our  being  present.  Please  accept  our  regrets 
and  permit  the  following  sentiment:  "May  the  patriotism,  love  of 
home,  good  citizenship,  the  zeal  and  progress  so  fully  represented 
by  the  fathers  and  mothers  of  the  past,  be  faithfully  and  impar- 
tially sustained  by  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  present." 
Very  kindly  yours, 

T.   M.    LONGLEY. 


EAGLE  RIVER,  MICH.,  OCTOBER  15,  1889. 

JOSEPH  FARNUM  AND  OTHERS,  COMMITTEE  OF  INVITATION: — Your 
card  of  7th  inst.  inviting  me  to  attend  the  150th  anniversary  of  the 
incorporation  of  the  town  of  Peterborough  is  just  at  hand,  and, 
while  nothing  could  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to  meet  my  old 
acquaintances  (who  must  be  few  now),  on  such  an  occasion,  I  re- 
gret to  say  that  business  duties  will  bar  me  from  such  enjoyment. 
Permit  me  to  thank  you  heartily  for  your  kind  invitation.  I  at- 
tended the  100th  anniversary,  beiiigthen  a  resident  of  the  town,  and 
well  remember  many  of  the  speakers  of  that  day,  one  of  whom, 
Gen.  James  Wilson,  was  a  life-long  friend  of  mine,  and  his  inter- 
est located  me  here  among  the  best  copper  mines  of  the  world. 
Again  thanking  you  for  your  kind  remembrance  of  me,  and  hoping 
the  occasion  may  fully  meet  your  anticipations,  I  am 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

JNO.  SENTER. 


85 

NEW  LISBON,  Wis.,  OCTOBER  11,  1889. 

GENTLEMEN  OF  COMMITTEE  OF  INVITATION  :— Your  postal  just  re- 
ceived. I  think  you  can  hardly  realize  the  thrill  of  pleasure 
that  the  name  Peterborough  sent  through  my  heart.  Nothing 
would  give  me  greater  happiness  than  to  be  with  you  on  this  anni- 
versary. My  earliest  recollections  dates  from  your  town.  While 
it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  be  with  you  in  person,  you  have 
my  heartiest  good  wishes  that  the  festivities  may  be  a  green  spot  in 
your  memories  never  to  be  forgotten. 

Sincerely  yours, 

FRED  E.  BOYNTON. 


NEW  LISBON,  Wis.,  OCTOBER,  15,  1889. 

JOSEPH  FARNUM  AND  OTHERS,  COMMITTEE  OF  INVITATION.  GEN- 
TLEMEN : — Your  kind  invitation  to  meet  and  participate  in  the  ex- 
ercises and  festivities  of  this  eventful  occasion  is  at  hand,  and 
meets  with  my  unbounded  sympathy  and  encouragement.  The 
thought  thrills  the  soul  with  delight,  and  the  pen  falters  when 
obliged  to  announce  that  circumstances  prevent. 

The  prosperity  and  growth  of  Peterborough  is  watched  by  her 
absent  sons  with  no  small  degree  of  pride,  and  the  intense  inter- 
est she  (her  residents)  exhibits  in  her  local,  state  and  national 
events,  manifests  a  wide  awake  spirit  that  can  be  traced  back  to 
the  originators  of  the  town,  whose  minds  are  embedded  with  solid 
common  sense,  immovable  as  the  hills  and  correct  as  the  judg- 
ment record.  Immigration  has  invaded  its  enclosure,  but  the  pure 
streams  of  morality  from  the  fountain  head  follow  the  direction 
marked  out  by  its  originators,  and  gives  it  impulse,  influence  and 
principle. 

After  thirty  years  of  absence  from  my  native  town  I  returned, 
expecting  much,  but  found  my  conceptions  more  than  realized. 
Beautiful  and  valuable  residences  dotted  the  hill  tops,  while  the 
valleys  and  water  powers  were  utilized  by  immense  structures  and 
inviting  homes.  Articles  manufactured  in  Peterborough  are  sold 
by  the  merchants  and  business  men  of  New  Lisbon,  Wis.  The 
East  mountains  we  were  trying  to  tunnel  or  remove  thirty  years 
ago  for  commercial  benefits  are  flanked  or  rode  over  by  railroads. 
The  aged  and  honored  had  passed  behind  the  veil,  and  the  simple 
name  was  inscribed  upon  the  cemetery  tombstone,  while  the  hum- 
ming spindle  and  busy  workshops  were  living  monuments  to  their 
enterprise  and  genius.  The  middle  aged  had  become  old;  the 
young  wore  locks  of  grey,  while  the  infants  and  babes  were  obey- 
ing the  Divine  injunction  to  increase,  multiply  and  replenish  the 
earth.  Perhaps  we  are  not  really  born  until  we  die,  and  if  death 
should  be  only  a  change  of  residence,  we  hope  it  to  be  among  the 
earnest,  enterprising  people  of  Peterborough. 
Your  schoolmate  and  friend, 

ELIAS  BOYNTON. 


NEWTON  LOWER  FALLS,  MASS.,  OCTOBER  19,  1889. 

MESSRS.  JOSEPH  FARNUM  AND  OTHERS.     GENTLEMEN  : — I  thank 

you  for  your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  your  sesqui-centennial. 

Although  not  a  native  or  former  resident,  I  feel  a  strong  interest 

in  the  welfare  of  the  town.     Mrs.  W.,  whom  I  married  in  Peter- 


Itorough  fifty  years  ago  was  a  native  of  Peterborough,  and  her  im- 
mediate relatives  reside  there  now.  If  nothing  unforeseen  pre- 
vents I  intend  to  he  present. 

Yours  most  respectfully, 

S.  G.  WILLIAMS. 
N.  B. — I  attended  the  celebration  fifty  years  ago. 


LOWELL,  OCTOBER  19,  1889. 

HON.  JOSEPH  FARNUM,  AND  GENTLEMEN  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF 
INVITATION: — I  have  received  your  invitation  to  the  150th  anniver- 
sary of  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Peterborough,  on  October 
•24th,  1889.  You  have  inv  thanks  for  the  kind  invitation. 

As  1  was  the  first  child  born  in  the  town  ("West  Peterborough), 
I  think  that  borough  should  be  represented,  therefore  I  shall  en- 
deavor to  be  present  on  that  occasion. 

Yours,  &c., 

SAMUEL  LAWRENCE. 


PHILADELPHIA,  PA.,  OCTOBER  19,  1889. 

JOSEPH  FARNUM  AKD  OTHERS,  COMMITTEE  OF  INVITATION.  GEN- 
TLEMEN:— I  have  your  invitation  to  participate  in  your  sesqui-cen- 
tennial  celebration  on  the  24th  prox.  I  very  well  remember  the 
pleasant  occasion  we  had  fifty  years  ago,  in  which  I  took  great  in- 
terest. I  would  be  very  glad  to  be  with  you  on  this  occasion,  but 
my  health  and  age  will  prevent.  The  painful  part  of  it  would  be  the 
absence  of  old  and  familiar  faces— -friends  who  long  since  passed 
on.  I  shall  be  with  you  in  spirit,  and  hope  you  will  have  as  good 
a  time  as  we  did  fifty  years  ago. 

Very  truly  yours, 

WM.  B.  BEMENT. 


UTICA  N.  Y.,  OCTOBER  24,  1889. 

J.  FARNUM,  PETERBOROUGH,  N.  H. : — I  find  to  my  exceeding  sor- 
row that  I  cannot  be  with  the  old  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  were 
boys  and  girls  together  in  '39,  hence  I  send  you  greeting.     Will 
materialize  at  the  two  hundredth,  if  permitted. 
Cordially  yours, 

JAS.  S.  GRAY. 


AUGUSTA,  ME.,  OCTOBER  24,  1889. 

HON.  FRANK  G.  CLARKE,  PETERBOROUGH,  N.  H.: — Prosperity 
to  Peterborough  for  another  century  and  a  half. 

LESLIE  C.  CORNISH. 


ANTRIM,  N.  H.,  OCTOBER  10,  1889. 

COL.  F.  G.  CLARKE.  DEAR  SIR:— Your  kind  invitation  to  at- 
tend the  celebration  of  the  150th  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of 
the  town  of  Peterborough  is  received.  I  am  very  sorry  to  be 
obliged  to  decline  the  invitation,  having  agreed  about  a  week  ago 
to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  Merrimack  County  Pomona  Grange  at 
Bradford,  on  Thursday,  October  24,  and  I  am  already  advertised 
for  that  occasion. 

Truly  yours, 

D.  H.  GOODELL. 


87 

713  FULTON  ST.,  TROY,  N.  Y.,  OCTOBER  14,  1889. 
GENTS.: — Yours  of  the  10th  instant  came  duly  to  hand.     I  thank 
you  very  much  for  your  kind  invitation,  but  regret  being  unable 
to  attend,  as  it  would  give  me  great  satisfaction  to  be  in  good  old 
Peterborough  once  more  and  meet  my  aged  friends.     Only  age  and 
infirmity  prevent.     It  has  always  given  me  great  pleasure  to  visit 
my  native  home,  especially  on  such  occasions. 
Yours  very  truly, 

SARAH  T.  MOORE. 


BELFAST,  ME.,  OCTOBER,  1889. 

DEAR  FRIENDS: — Your  circular  of  October  was  duly  received, 
and  I  should  be  most  happy  to  be  with  you  as  a  native  of  Peterbo- 
rough, N.  H.  But  distance  and  the  infirmities  of  age  prevent  me 
from  attending  this  150th  anniversary  of  the  town. 

I  shall  be  eighty-five  years  old  if  I  live  until  the  last  day  of  this 
year ;  was  born  in  1804,  the  last  day.  I  shall  always  cherish  the 
most  sweet  and  grateful  memories  of  Peterborough  and  its  people. 
I  heard  Rev.  J.  H.  Morison's  address  fifty  years  ago.  Still  hope 
to  have  the  privilege  of  reading  the  one  of  the  24th. 

I  realize  time  is  short  and  uncertain.  Those  in  life  who  started 
with  us  are  nearly  all  gone ;  a  few  remain  to  remind  us  of  bygones. 
but  many,  many,  have  gone  the  way  of  all  the  earth ;  so  the  oldest 
man  in  your  town  can  testify,  I  am  tired  and  must  close.  I  can 
write  only  a  little  while  at  a  time.  Please  make  due  allowance 
for  an  aged  lady's  imperfect  letter.  Kind  regards  to  all.  Wish- 
ing you  all  health  and  prosperity,  I  close. 

MARY  B.  PIERCE. 


SANTA  CRUZ,  CAL.,  OCTOBER  16,  1889. 

GENTLEMEN  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  INVITATION: — I  regret  it  is 
not  convenient  to  accept  your  kind  invitation  to  attend  the  sesqui- 
centennial  anniversary.  Nothing  but  distance  prevents.  I  assure 
you  no  daughter  of  old  Peterborough  would  enjoy  it  more  than  I . 
I  shall  be  there  in  spirit,  and  enjoy  in  imagination  the  festivities 
in  which  I  can  take  no  part. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

HARRIET  WILSON. 


146  ELM  ST.,  NORTHAMPTON,  MASS.,  OCTOBER  24,  1889. 
To  THE  CITIZENS  OF  PETERBOROUGH.  DEAR  FRIENDS: — I  thank 
you  most  sincerely  for  your  cordial  invitation  to  me  and  mine  to 
be  present  on  the  24th,  to  celebrate  the  1/iOth  anniversary  of  the 
incorporation  of  the  town,  but  it  is  entirely  impossible  for  me  to 
be  present,  only  in  spirit,  which  I  shall  most  truly  be.  May  the 
day  be  rich  with  interchange  of  thoughts  and  friendly  greeting. 
Pleasant  and  sad  memories  come  to  me  as  I  think  of  dear  old  Pe- 
terborough. May  God  be  with  you  and  bless  you  all,  is  the  sin- 
cere wish  of 

Your  old  friend, 

MRS.  CHARLES  B.  FERRY. 


The  Chairman: 

I  will  now  present  a  gentleman,  Rev.  A.  M.  Pcndleton  of  Mil- 
ford,  N.  H.,  who,  not  a  native,  was  for  several  years  a  citizen,  and 
has  taken  a  deeper  interest  in,  and  done  more  for  our  excellent 
Town  Library  than  any  person  now  living,  who  will  speak  to 

"THE  TOWN  LIBRARY." 

MR  PRESIDENT: — If  it  had  been  thought  of  I  would  gladly  have 
prepared  a  paper  on  the  town  library  worthy  of  your  attention, 
but  without  preparation  perhaps  I  can  show  you  how  long  a  time 
it  took  for  the  germ  to  become  the  perfected  institution.  The  first 
hint  of  a  free  town  library  I  have  met  with  in  my  reading  is  found 
iu  a  powerful  and  impassioned  address  of  Luther's  to  the  munici- 
pal councils  of  the  German  towns,  exhorting  them  to  establish 
everywhere  Christian  schools,  both  learned  and  elementary.  "The 
strength  of  a  town,"  he  says,  "does  not  consist  in  its  towers  and 
buildings,  but  in  counting  a  great  number  of  learned,  serious, 
honest,  well-educated  citizens.  Do  not  fancy  Hebrew  and  Greek 
to  be  unnecessary.  These  languages  are  the  sheath  which  covers 
the  sword  of  the  spirit.  How  could  I  have  combatted  and  over- 
thrown pope  and  sophists,  even  having  the  true  faith,  if  I  had  not 
possessed  the  languages  ?"  And  then,  carried  away  by  his  inspi- 
ration, he  turns  aside  from  his  subject  to  say:  "'You  must  found 
libraries  for  learned  books, — not  only  the  fathers  but  also  the 
pagan  writers,  the  fine  arts,  law,  history,  medicine  must  be  rep- 
resented in  such  collections." 

Luther's  words  were  living  things,  and  forthwith  the  town 
councils  of  his  dear  Germans,  as  he  called  them,  began  to  make 
notable  collections  of  books  for  the  free  use  of  all  their  citizens. 
Their  example  spread  into  France  and*  Italy,  and,  indeed,  into 
most  of  the  leading  nations  of  the  continent,  and  doubtless  did  a 
great  and  useful  work  in  the  furtherance  of  the  Reformation.  But 
because  no  stated  provision  was  made  for  their  increase,  and  be- 
cause no  one  then  thought  of  loaning  them  for  home  use,  they 
gradually  sank  into  neglect  and  disuse.  Though  several  of  them 
were  more  than  once  revived,  and  though  they  continue  to  exist 
to  this  day,  the  impulse  they  gained  from  Luther  lost  its  vital 
force,  and  they  ceased  to  be  among  the  forming  elements  of  mod- 
ern development. 

Singularly  enough,  though  general  on  the  continent,  they  did  not 
cross  the  channel,  and  no  instance  of  such  a  library  was  to  be 
found  in  the  British  Isles,  till,  stimulated  by  the  foundation  of  our 
own  Boston  public  library,  the  Libraries  Act  of  Great  Britain 
was  passed  in  1850.  But  the  Pilgrim  fathers  in  their  long  sojourn 
in  Holland  had  doubtless  become  familiar  with  them,  and  carried 
the  germ  of  the  public  library  along  with  the  germ  of  the  common 
school,  the  university  and  the  town  meeting  to  this  country.  The 


89 

books  they  carried  across  seas  they  ordained  in  a  public  statute — 
which  seems  almost  pathetic  now — and  they  should  be  preserved 
with  religious  care  as  if  the  fate  of  the  infant  commonwealth 
was  bound  up  in  them,  and  the  curious  visitor  to  that  hallowed  spot 
on  the  wintry  coast  may  still  take  in  his  hand  with  awe  the  ver- 
itable volumes  which  were  the  solace  and  intellectual  stimulant  of 
the  founders,  or  their  immediate  successors,  of  Plymouth  colony. 

There  was  a  shadowy  library  of  like  character  in  early  Boston, 
which  is  several  times  alluded  to  in  such  records  as  have  survived, 
but  which  probably  perished  either  in  the  fires  of  1711  or  1747  that 
twice  destroyed  the  town  house  and  the  public  records. 

For  a  long  time  after  the  germ  remained  dormant.  It  did  not 
even  occur  to  sagacious  Franklin  to  give  it  a  new  birth.  His  pro- 
prietors' or  subscription  libraries  which,  begun  in  Philadelphia, 
spread  so  rapidly  over  the  middle  states  and  New  England,  till 
they  became  a  part  of  the  social  and  intellecual  life  of  almost  every 
considerable  town,  were  essentially  private  libraries  restricted  to 
those  who  owned  or  paid  for  them,  and  of  which  Peterboro'  had 
sucessively  two  if  not  three  at  a  very  early  period  of  its  history. 
So  slow  was  the  progress  of  an  idea  that  at  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century  there  were  only  two  libraries  in  the  country 
in  any  sense  public,  and  those,  I  believe,  were  both  theological. 

At  last  in  1833,  Dr.  Abiel  Abbot,  then  the  minister  of  the  Unita- 
rian church  of  Peterborough,  a  lover  of  books  and  the  founder  of 
two  other  libraries,  conceived  the  idea  and  carried  into  execution 
the  project  of  a  library  to  be  owned  by  the  town,  snpported,by 
annual  town  appropriations,  managed  by  a  committee  of  its  ap- 
pointment, and  whose  volumes  should  be  accessible  not  only  in  the 
library  room,  but  find  their  Avay  into  the  humblest  as  well  as  the 
most  conspicuous  homes,  to  be  the  unfailing  and  perpetual  joy  of 
all  such  of  its  inhabitants  as  love  the  dear  companionship  of  books. 

Peterborough  Town  Library  became  thus  the  first  instance  of 
its  kind  in  the  United  States,  preceding  the  Boston  Public,  which 
is  often  claimed  as  first,  by  fifteen  years.  It  also  antedates  all 
the  public  libraries  of  Great  Britain  and  its  dependencies  by  a 
still  longer  period,  and  is  therefore  the  first  library  to  realize  the 
complete  idea  of  a  free  town  library  among  the  hundred  millions 
or  more  who  speak  the  English  tongue  on  the  planet. 

Peterborough  has  no  honor  greater  than  this.  It  is  her  chiefest 
crown  and  glory — always  to  be  held  with  honorable  pride  and 
preserved  with  a  care  as  sacred  as  the  Pilgrim  statute  enjoined.  It 
has  many  wants,  chief  among  which  is  a  building,  beautiful  for 
its  situation,  noble  in  its  proportions,  containing  many  apart- 
ments and  uses,  which  will  make  it  a  kind  of  town  university,  and 
altogether  worthy  of  its  exceptional  historic  renown.  It  will 
require  no  small  sum  to  build  it,  and  to  endow  it  so  that  it  may 
be  the  leading  educational  institution  of  the  town.  I  appeal  to 


90 

you.  the  returned  sons  and  daughters  of  Peterborough  who  have 
come  from  near  and  far  to  take  part  in  this  anniversary,  to  join 
with  those  who  keep  the  old  place  at  home,  in  making  this  honored 
institution,  by  its  outward  habitation,  and  by  its  endowment,  the 
crowning  joy  as  well  as  chief  honor  of  Peterborough  forever. 

The  Chairman : 

I  see  with  us  here  to-day  one  with  whom  in  boyhood  I  went  to 
school,  who  learned  his  trade  in  the  printing  office  in  this  town . 
and  afterwards  became  proprietor  of  the  establishment  and  editor 
of  the  paper,  who  for  several  years  past  has  been  the  editor  and 
publisher  of  an  important  weekly  in  another  portion  of  the  State, 
and  who  has  recently  been  honored  by  the  district  in  which  he  re- 
sides to  an  election  to  the  N.  H.  Senate.  I  refer  to  Hon.  E.  H. 
Cheney  of  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  and  invite  him  to  speak  to  the  theme, 

"THE  PRINTERS  OF  PETERBOROUGH." 

MR.  CHAIRMAN  AND  FRIENDS  :— What  best  befits  this  day,  it  may 
be,  is  wit  and  humor;  yet  it  has  its  serious  side.  Fill  up  the 
hours  as  we  will  with  mirth-provoking  reminiscence,  till  "laughter 
holding  both  its  sides"  confront  us,  we  can  but  heave  a  sigh  as  we 
recall  joys  that  shall  never  return,  and  faces  we  shall  know  no 
more.  I  recall  a  bit  of  boyish  indignation  over  the  fact  that  I  was 
not  deemed  old  enough  to  attend  the  centennial.  In  families  such 
as  you  and  I,  sir,  represent,  so  common  on  those  days,  so  rare  to- 
day, it  was  necessary  to  draw  the  line  somewhere.  The  one-horse 
shay  and  the  thoroughbrace  wagon  would  not  hold  all ;  so  I  was 
left  at  home  with  two  younger  sisters  to  bother  the  hired  girl , 
while  the  rest  of  the  dozen  went  to  the  centennial.  If  any  little  Pe  - 
terborians  have  been  left  at  home  to-day  against  their  will,  I  hope 
they  will  harbor  their  resentment  as  long  as  I  have  harbored  mine, 
and  come  here  to  tell  it  fifty  years  from  to-day. 

A  picture  comes  to  mind.  The  scene  is  the  little,  low,  square, 
brick  school  house  on  "Winnie  Row,"  old  No.  9,  where,  only,  I 
knew  the  district  school.  I  see  yourself,  of  a  bright  winter  morning , 
clad,  trousers  and  long  frock,  in  the  blue  and  white  striped  frock  - 
ing  of  the  period,  made  from  wool  grown  on  the  farm,  spun  and 
woven  in  the  home — all  wool,  a  yard  wide  and  no  shoddy — warm 
as  a  mother's  love  and  almost  as  enduring.  I  see  yon  coming  in , 
when  the  school  is  rapped  to  order,  from  your  frolic  in  the  snow , 
cheeks  all  aglow  with  health.  You  enter  the  door,  turn  to  the  left, 
march  up  one  of  those  steep  aisles,  the  hot  breath  puffing  out  of 
your  mouth  in  great  clouds,  and  congealing  in  an  atmosphere  not 
yet  sufficiently  tempered  by  a  tardily  kindled  and  reluctant  fire— 
yourself  and  fully  thirty  like  you.  Gen.  Ira  Cross  among  them, 
takes  his  seat  by  my  side,  and  I  playfully  cut  with  my  hand 
the  hot  breath  issuing  from  his  mouth.  It  seems  but  yesterday. 


91 

LTp  the  opposite  slope  march  as  many  red  cheeked  girls,  or  more — 
the  fairest,  save  one,  my  eyes  have  ever  rested  on — clad  in  home- 
spun, woolen  gowns.  O,  for  one  look  to-day  at  the  reality  of  this 
picture  as  it  comes  to  me  through  the  years. 

And  what  a  responsibility  rested  on  the  Dartmouth  freshman  or 
sophomore  Who  for  the  time  being  presided  over  these  three  or 
four  score  youth.  How  reverently,  sometimes  mischievously,  we 
looked  up  to  him. 

"And  still  we  gazed,  and  still  the  wonder  grew, 
How  one  small  head  could  carry  all  he  knew." 

Nor  did  we  fail  to  measure  with  keen  eye  the  "ferule"  which  he 
brandished  as  an  emblem  of  his  anthority.  Nor  yet  the  pile  of 
goose  quills  on  his  desk,  shaped  into  pens  for  our  use  by  his  skill- 
ful hands.  How  these  pictures  will  come  back  to  us.  Nor  those 
alone  of  the  day  school.  Around  the  churches  of  Peterborough 
cluster  a  multitude  of  tender,  and  some  sacred  memories.  Three 
of  the  present  church  structures  were  erected  in  the  half  decade  of 
which  I  speak,  immediately  following  the  centennial.  It  was  an 
era  of  church  building.  With  what  interest  we  watched  the  pro- 
gress of  each  and  saw  it  dedicated  with  due  solemnity. 

It  was  here  after  my  return  from  the  academy,  that  I  learned  at 
the  hands  of  a  lamented  brother  of  yours,  but  little  my  senior,  the 
"art  preservative."  Here,  too,  with  another  lamented  brother  of 
yours  as  my  model,  I  first  felt  the  dignity  and  responsibility  of 
saying  "we"  instead  of  "I."  Receiving  the  Transcript  at  the 
hands  of  these,  I  turned  it  over,  two  years  later,  to  yourself. 

The  village  lyceum,  and  debating  societies;  the  dramatic  ex- 
hibitions ;  the  spelling  schools ;  the  writing  schools ;  the  singing 
schools,  and  for  some,  but  not  for  me,  the  dancing  schools.  That 
single  rope  swing  in  front  of  the  old  academy  on  which  we  boys 
used  to  swing  out  at  full  length  over  the  road  and  around  the  single 
tree  upon  the  bank ;  I  wondered,  as  I  looked  to-day,  if  it  can  be 
the  same  lone  tree  that  stands  there  still.  The  swing  in  the  rear 
of  the  academy  in  which  we  used  to  swing  the  girls  till  we  were 
out  of  breath;  the  big  swing  in  the  woods  between  the  paper 
mill  and  the  Wilder  peg  mill ;  the*  games  of  ball  upon  the  school 
house  green ;  the  parties  where  we  sometimes  "went  to  Rome" ; 
the  sleigh  rides;  what  wonders  of  sleigh  rides  Peterborough  used 
to  have — a  hundred  or  a  hundred  and  fifty  couples  at  a  time,  on 
the  road  to  Keene,  with  the  merry  jingle  of  bells  and  the  merrier 
laugh  of  thrice  a  hundred  voices.  Our  coasting  and  our  skating 
days;  the  May  trainings  and  the  musters.  I  recall  especially  that 
muster  of  the  old  22d  regiment  in  September,  1844,  with  its  visit- 
ing organizations — the  Jaffrey  Rifles  and  the  Dublin  Grenadiers  of 
the  old  12th  regiment,  and  others  from  other  regiments  whose 
names  I  forget.  The  line  at  the  morning  dress  parade  extended 


92 

from  the  old  Hell  Factory  down  Main  street  to  beyond  the  granite 
bridge. 

What  forms,  what  voices  do  we  thus  recall.  Who  will  deny  us 
a  sigh  that  they  are  gone  forever?  I  would  not  call  them  back. 
The  rough  places  of  life  might  come  with  them.  And  its  mis- 
takes; who  would  live  them  over?  How  fortunate  it  is  that  we 
live  over  and  over  and  over  again  our  joys,  and  forget  our  sorrows 
almost  so  soon  as  they  are  fled.  The  fittest  survives,  even  in  our 
memory. 

Peterborough  has  been  fortunate,  though  I  do  say  it,  in  the  char- 
aoter  of  its  local  press — clean,  pure,  wholesome,  healthful,  fit  to  be 
in  the  family  through  all  its  history.  You  cannot  too  highly  prize 
it.  I  pity  him  and  the  community  cursed  by  his  presence,  who, 
charged  with  the  duty  to  say  what  shall  and  what  shall  not  go  in- 
to the  local  paper,  forgets  that  tremendous  consequences  to  some 
hang  on  the  character  of  what  he  admits  to  its  columns,  and  forgets 
that  for  the  right  discharge  of  his  duty  he  is  responsible  to  Almighty 
God.  Dear  old  Transcript — at  once  my  mother  and  my  child ; 
this  heart  of  mine  is  ever  yours. 

I  rejoice  to  see  that  Peterborough  faces  the  rising  sun,  and  to 
note  as  evidence  this  commodious  opera  house  and  yonder  school 
house.  It  would  have  been  a  pity  to  celebrate  this  day  with  the 
school  house  problem  unsolved.  It  is  up  hill  business — this  facing 
the  future.  Sitting  where  we  do,  sir,  turn  which  way  we  will, 
the  incline  is  steep;  the  hills  are  all  around.  Yonder  summit  may 
be  a  trifle  higher  than  the  rest,  but  sunrise  is  over  there.  The 
founders  of  this  village,  as  if  to  symbolize  the  spirit  that  was  in 
them,  buried  their  dead  on  the  summit  of  sunrise  hill.  They 
seemed  to  say,  "No  rest  till  we  reach  the  top."  Men  and  women 
of  Peterborough !  Would  you  be  not  degenerate  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  noble  sires  and  dames?  Then  gather  out  of  the  past  all  that 
is  best  in  it;  but  face  the  rising  sun — your  motto:  "No  rest  till 
you  reach  the  top." 

In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  read  a  few  lines  which,  almost  so 
soon  as  your  kind  invitation  called  these  hallowed  memories  to 
mind,  I  had  put  into  very  imperfect  verse,  as  embodying  the 
thoughts  which  most  possess  me. 

THOSE  FRIENDS  OF  OTHER  DAYS. 

O,  where  are  the  friends  of  ray  earlier  days  ? 
Gone  out  through  the  world  in  devious  ways. 
But,  revered  though  never  so  widely  apart, 
Those  friends  of  my  childhood  are  dear  to  my  heart. 

Gone  out  through  the  world?    Some  fallen  by  the  way, 
And  entered,  alas!  on  eternity's  day. 
Alas!  did  I  say?    O,  why  do  we  weep 
O'er  friends  of  our  childhood  fallen  asleep? 


93 

The  joys  of  our  springtime  are  ended  and  gone, 
And  faded  the  visions  that  once  were  our  own. 
With  tread  less  elastic,  and  locks  silvering  o'er, 
We.  too,  are  approaching  the  evergreen  shore. 

But  friends  near  at  home  and  friends  far  away 
Are  gathered  this  sesqui-centennial  day. 
To  revive  hallowed  memories  and  join  friendly  hands, 
We  are  come  from  our  homes  in  far  and  near  lauds. 

We  are  come  from  the  South ;  we  are  come  from  the  North — 
Wherever  life's  duties  have  beckoned  us  forth. 
We  are  come  from  the  East;  we  are  come  from  the  West, 
Bend  o'er  us,  old  friends,  in  the  realms  of  the  blest. 

Bend  o'er  us,  old  friends,  though  hidden  from  view, 
And  with  us,  in  spirit,  old  friendships  renew. 
Though  the  days  when  we  mingled  are  left  far  behind, 
It  can  never  be  true — "Out  of  sight,  out  of  mind." 

'Mid  feasting  of  reason  and  flowing  of  soul, 
Of  the  living  and  dead  let  us  here  call  the  roll ; 
Then,  returned  to  life's  duties,  with  vigor  pursue 
Our  way,  as  before  us  it  opens  to  view. 

"We  are  gathering  home,  one  by  one."     Be  it  ours 
With  love  and  with  goodness  to  fill  up  the  hours. 
They  shall  pass  swiftly  o'er  us — these  few  years  to  come; 
And  the  friends  gone  before  us  shall  welcome  us  home. 

The  Chairman : 

MR.  PRESIDENT  : — It  now  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  introduce 
to  this  assembly  one  of  the  oldest,  most  honored,  and  best  loved  of 
our  native  citizens ;  one  whose  wise  and  pure  counsel  has  bene- 
fitted  all  peoples  who  have  been  privileged  to  listen  to  his  eloquent 
words;  one  who  having  partially  laid  aside  the  mantle  of  labor, 
has  come  back  to  us  as  a  citizen,  and  who  was  the  orator  of  the 
day  fifty  years  ago — the  Rev.  Dr.  John  H.  Morison,  whose  topic; 
will  be, 

"PETERBOROUGH  HOMES." 

In  his  impromptu  remarks  Dr.  Morison,  in  speaking  of  "our 
homes,"  quoted  a  sentiment  given  fifty  years  ago  by  Gen.  James 
Miller,  one  of  the  two  Peterborough  men  who  gained  what  might 
be  called  a  national  reputation.  The  words  quoted  were,  "May 
we  encourage  literature,  revere  religion,  and  love  one  another." 

"It  would  be  difficult,"  he  said,  "to  find  words  which,  in  a  short 
compass,  would  better  indicate  the  character  of  a  Christian  home, 
especially  as  illustrated  by  the  home  in  which  Gen.  Miller  had  his 
early  training.  I  remember  the  house  in  which  his  parents  resided 
seventy-five  years  ago.  It  was  a  low,  one  story  cottage,  in  size  and 
shape  very  much  like  that  in  which  Robert  Burns  was  born. 
His  parents  lived^o  be  nearly  90  years  old,  and  if  they  knew  little 
of  literature,  they  certainly  excelled  in  the  other  qualities  com- 
mended by  their  son.  His  reputation  was  that  of  a  soldier,  but  a 
man  of  a  more  reverent  nature  or  a  more  tender  heart  could  not 
be  found.  The  home  into  which  he  was  born  was  admirably  fitted 


94 

to  cherish  such  a  spirit  and  to  form  such  a  character.  And  the 
home  in  which  he  lived  after  he  retired  from  the  governorship 
of  Alabama  was  marked  by  the  same  simple  habits  and  kindly  af- 
fections as  long  as  he  or  his  children  lived. 

In  like  manner  the  only  other  son  of  Peterborough  who  gained  a 
national  reputation,  was  born  in  a  home  fitted  to  call  out  the  great 
qualities  of  mind  and  character  for  which  he  was  distinguished. 
The  father  was  a  mild,  thoughtful,  upright  man,  liberal  in  many 
ways,  but  especially  so  in  his  ideas  of  family  government,  leaving 
to  his  children  a  wide  margin  for  freedom  of  thought  and  action, 
where  they  were  left  to  decide  for  themselves.  His  wife  was  of  a 
more  impulsive  and  authoritative  disposition.  If,  as  one  who  re- 
membered her  well  once  said  to  me,  "She  kept  the  scold  a  going," 
it  came  not  so  much  from  a  bad  temper  as  from  an  excess  of  ener- 
gy, which  must  find  relief  in  some  kind  of  forcible  utterance. 
Like  most  persons  of  that  generation,  she  spoke  in  a  strongly 
marked  Scotch  dialect,  and  was  always  ready  with  a  keen  repartee. 
When  her  son,  having  got  a  little  book  learning,  undertook  to 
comment  on  his  mother's  ungrammatical  language,  she  sharply  re- 
plied: "But  wha  taught  you  language?  It  was  my  wheel;  and 
when  ye'll  hae  spun  as  many  lang  three  threads  to  teach  me  gram- 
mar as  I  hae  to  teach  you,  I'll  talk  better  grammar." 

There  was  a  keen  sense  of  humor  in  the  household,  and  nothing 
called  it  out  so  unmercifully  as  the  presence  of  anything  mean  or 
dishonest.  There  was  great  intellectual  activity  among  all  the  chil- 
dren, but  especially  with  Jeremiah,  who  in  his  early  years  was 
haunted  by  an  overpowering  longing  for  knowledge.  The  boy 
would  sometimes  walk  off"  four  or  five  miles  in  quest  of  a  book,  and 
make  himself  in  no  small  measure,  master  of  its  contents  on  his 
way  back.  Books  were  scarce.  But  in  his  home  there  was  one 
book  looked  up  to  with  reverence  by  them  all.  And  that  book,  ap- 
pealing to  what  is  deepest  and  highest  in  our  nature,  did  more  than 
all  others,  not  only  to  color  but  to  create,  the  atmosphere  of 
thought,  emotion  and  affection  in  which  they  lived,  and  by  which 
their  characters  were  formed. 

Such  was  the  home  in  which  he  had  his  early  training,  and  the 
home  in  which  he  lived  when  he  retired  from  the  active  business 
of  life  was  pre-eminently  distinguished  by  all  the  characteristics  of 
which  I  have  spoken.  It  was  my  great  privilege  in  early  youth  to 
be  received  as  a  member  of  Judge  Smith's  family.  His  son  was 
a  man  of  rare  intellectual  endowments  and  personal  attractions, 
and  his  daughter  was  endowed  in  a  remarkable  degree  with  the 
virtues,  the  intellectual  attainments,  the  affections  and  graces 
which  enrich  and  adorn  a  Christian  home,  while  he  himself  was  al- 
ways looked  up  to  with  filial  reverence  as  the  source  and  object  of 
loving  devotion.  But  in  one  short  season,  when  he  was  nearly  sev- 
enty years  old,  all  his  family,  his  wife,  his  daughter  and  his  son, 


95 

were  taken  from  him,  and  he  was  left  in  the  world  alone.  But  af- 
terward the  home  was  renewed.  A  wife,  even  more  richly  en- 
dowed than  the  daughter  had  been,  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the 
household.  Never  had  its  beneficent  influences  on  its  inmates,  or 
on  those  who  from  without  were  drawn  to  it,  been  more  richly 
felt.  And  the  last  years  of  that  great  man's  life,  cheered  and 
helped  as  he  was  by  the  angel  at  his  side,  were  even  more  blessed 
than  those  which  had  gone  before. 

Here,  under  more  favorable  auspices,  with  larger  means  and  op- 
portunities, was  the  natural  expansion  or  evolution  of  the  early 
Peterborough  home.  Those  homes,  scattered  as  they  were  through- 
out the  town — no  one  knew  them  better  than  I  did  as  a  boy.  There 
was  homely  fare,  and  a  plenty  of  hard  work.  But  there  were  the 
hardy  virtues,  the  tender  affections,  the  devout  reverence,  the 
thoughtful  habits,  the  contentment,  the  sweetness  and  the  light, 
which  may  give  encouragement  and  life  and  growth  to  all  that  is 
holiest  and  best  in  our  nature.  From  such  homes  in  the  darkest 
days  of  our  rebellion  came  forth  the  valor  and  the  worth  which 
saved  the  nation.  When,  after  the  terrible  disasters  of  the  second 
Bull  Run,  I  found  that  sixty-two  young  men  from  the  homes 
of  this  small  town  had  offered  themselves,  I  no  longer  had  any 
doubt  as  to  the  result  of  the  war.  These  homes,  and  such  as 
they,  have  been  so  associated  with  all  that  is  dearest  to  us,  and 
in  their  very  poverty  so  richly  endowed  with  all  that  should  be 
most  precious  and  sacred,  that  I  would  say  of  them,  as  I  heard 
Daniel  Webster  say,  the  tears  rolling  down  his  cheeks  as  he  spoke, 
that  'I  can  hardly  think  of  them  without  emotion,  or  speak  of  them 
without  tears.'  So  long  as  such  homes  continue,  our  country,  its 
churches,  its  schools,  its  laws  and  its  liberties  are  safe." 

The  speaker  closed  with  a  few  words  to  illustrate  the  tender  and 
softening  influences  of  these  homes. 

The  Chairman : 

It  is  an  old  and  oft  repeated  saying  that  the  "Press  is  mightier 
than  the  sword."  I  will  call  upon  John  Scott,  Esq.,  of  the  Tran- 
script to  respond  to  the  toast, 

"THE  LOCAL  PRESS." 

MR.  CHAIRMAN,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN: — The  history  of  the 
press  of  Peterborough  is  almost  spanned  by  my  lifetime.  At  the 
centennial  celebration  there  was  no  local  newspaper,  and  previous 
to  that  time  but  two  small  journals  had  sustained  a  brief  and  pre- 
carious existence.  In  the  absence  of  the  newspaper,  the  post  office, 
the  corner  store,  and  the  ladies'  sewing  circle,  were  the  principal 
mediums  for  disseminating  the  news  of  the  day,  and  with  com- 
mendable zeal  and  fidelity  was  the  self-imposed  task  performed. 

The  first  newspaper  in  town  was  printed  in  the  old  Joel  Brown 
store  building,  near  the  granite  bridge,  by  Wm.  P.  and  John  S. 


96 

Diinhnr.  Its  first  number  appeared  in  the  latter  part  of  1829,  under 
the  somewhat  top  heavy  title  of  "The  Hilltiboro'  Republican  and 
New  Hampshire  Clarion."  It  was  a  small  sheet,  well  edited  by 
Kev.  Elijah  Dunbar,  and  closed  its  existence  April  29,  1831,  at  the 
age  of  about  one  year  and  five  months. 

The  second  Paper  was  "The  Phcenix  Gazette,"  printed  by  Miller 
&  Hradbury,  in  the  year  1832,  previous  to  the  election  of  Andrew 
Jackson  to  his  second  term  of  the  presidency.  It  was  a  warm  sup- 
porter of  his  administration.  The  names  of  the  committee  of  the 
opposing  party,  were  Timothy  K.  Ames  and  Timothy  Fox.  The 
principal  traders  in  the  place  at  that  time  were  "Brown  &  Wilson," 
"Smith  &  Thompson,"  and  "Wm.  H.  Rodgers."  Ashley  Loring 
was  the  "hatter,"  and  Jonathan  Locke  of  Greenfield,  "cloth  dress- 
er." The  following  editorial  is  a  specimen  of  the  political  feeling 
of  those  days: 

On  which  side  of  the  fence  is  Deacon  Boylston  now?  We  ask  for  in- 
formation, for  really  we  supposed  from  appearance  that  the  Deacon 
had  got  into  the  wrong  pew.  There  is  comfort  for  him  however  now — 
a  crumb  of  consolation  from  the  Antimasonic  election  in  Pennsylvania. 
What  do  you  think,  Deacon,  of  antimasonry.  Is  it  not  beautiful  to  see 
"Kindred  and  friends  n<iree  each?" 

The  Clay  men  say  if  Penn.,  if  New  York,  if  Ohio,  if  Kentucky,  if 
Vermont,  and  if  a  dozen  more  States  vote  for  anti-Jackson  electors, 
and  if  all  the  antimason  and  federal  electors  vote  for  Clay  he  will  be 
elected.  So  \f  the  comet  should  happen  to  light  on  the  top  of  Monad- 
nock  Mountain  and  flourish  his  fiery  tail  for  ten  miles  round,  there 
would  be  but  little  use  for  candles  in  Dublin  and  Jaffrey.  One  if  is  as 
good  as  another. 

Of  the  length  of  the  life  of  this  publication  we  have  no  record, 
but  it  must  have  been  brief,  probably  closing  with  the  political 
campaign. 

The  third  newspaper,  and  not  the  second,  as  stated  in  the  Histo- 
ry of  Peterborough,  was  a  little  sheet  published  by  S.  P.  Brown, 
and  was  called  "The  Peterborough  Messenger."  It  was  started  in 
the  summer  of  1847,  but  after  an  existence  of  ten  months,  died, 
like  its  predecessors,  of  that  ever  popular  cause  of  death — heart 
failure. 

The  collapse  of  The  Messenger  found  its  proprietor  indebted  to 
John  K.  Miller,  our  worthy  President  of  the  Day,  for  a  somewhat 
extended  service  as  journeyman  printer.  After  waiting  a  time 
with  patience,  or,  possibly,  impatience,  for  his  pay,  Mr.  Miller 
levied  an  execution  upon  the  office,  which  carne  into  his  posession 
at  a  price  smaller  than  the  sum  claimed  in  the  writ;  and  to  this  day 
the  balance  of  $150,  with  interest,  remains  unpaid,  unless  per- 
chance, Mr.  Miller  considers  the  honor  of  having  been  the  founder 
of  the  Transcript  as  full  equivalent  for  the  debt. 

Admitting  Kendall  C.  Scott  to  partnership  in  the  fall  of  1848, 
job  work  failing  to  occupy  the  time  of  both,  the  publication  of 
"The  Conloocook  Transcript"  was  commenced  on  Saturday,  June 
2.  1849,  under  the  firm  name  of  Miller  &  Scott,  adopting  as  their 


97 

motto,  "The  Faithful  are  certain  of  their  Reward."  The  paper 
from  the  start  was  a  live  one,  and  many  of  its  editorials  would 
have  done  credit  to  a  more  pretentious  sheet. 

[A  copy  of  Vol.  I.,  No.  4,  of  the  Contoocook  Transcript,  printed  Sat- 
urday, June  23,  1849,  and  heavily  draped  in  mourning  for  President 
James  K.  Polk,  who  died  the  Sunday  previous,  was  exhibited  to  the 
audience.] 

In  May,  1851,  K.  C.  Scott  became  sole  proprietor,  and  he  in  turn 
a  year  or  two  later  sold  out  to  Elias  H.  Cheney,  who  had  just  com- 
pleted his  apprenticeship  in  the  office.  It  was  during  Mr.  Cheney's 
administration  that  the  motto  was  changed  to  "We'll  Try,  Sir." 

Upon  closing  his  connection  with  the  Transcript,  Mr.  Miller 
worked  as  journeyman  printer  about  six  mo  nths  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  after  which  he  returned  to  Peterborough,  deserted  the 
craft,  and  became  a  dispenser  of  drugs,  in  which  occupation  he 
still  continues.  From  a  financial  point  of  view  his  course  was  a 
wise  one,  for  squills,  pills,  poultices,  plasters,  ipecac,  Epsom  salts, 
castor  oil,  calomel,  and  kindred  luxuries  the  masses  will  have,  but 
it  is  only  the  more  intellectual  and  cultured  people  who  feel  that 
the  newspaper  is  indispensable. 

March  7,  1855,  Charles  Scott  became  sole  proprietor,  and  contin- 
ued to  fill  the  editorial  chair  until  November  20,  1856,  when  K.  C. 
Scott  again  purchased  the  office,  which  remained  in  his  possession 
until  November  18,  1865,  when  your  humble  servant  was  admitted 
to  partnership,  and  March  1st,  1866,  bargained  for  the  other  half  of 
the  business.  March  3,  1866,  the  Transcript  was  issued  by  John 
Scott  &  Co.,  the  "Co."  being  more  a  myth  than  a  reality. 

Before  another  week  had  rolled  round,  however,  a  partnership 
had  been  formed  between  Joseph  Farnum  and  myself.  Since  that 
time  we  have  continued  to  work  in  double  harness,  and  to-day, 
if  I  mistake  not,  as  members  of  the  firm  of  Farnum  &  Scott,  we 
represent  the  oldest  business  partnership  in  town. 

With  the  exception  of  the  time  when  Mr.  Cheney  presided  over 
its  destinies,  some  member  of  my  family  has  been  connected  with 
the  Transcript,  and  it  was  for  many  years  a  fondly  cherished  hope 
that  I  might  some  day  be  succeeded  by  one  of  my  progeny,  but  the 
death  of  my  sunny-faced,  happy-hearted  little  boy  renders  it  hardly 
probable  that  the  name  of  Scott  will  much  longer  be  connected 
with  your  local  newspaper. 

The  last  motto  which  graced  the  first  page  of  the  Transcript,  and 
adopted  by  K.  C.  Scott,  was  "Our  Local  Interests,"  and  from  first 
to  last  we  believe  that  our  local  interests  have  been  zealously  pro- 
moted by  its  several  proprietors. 

Permit  me  to  read  briefly  from  an  article  from  the  pen  of  E.  JI. 
Cheney,  and  published  January  4,  1854.  While  discussing  the  best 
means  of  promoting  the  business  prosperity  of  the  town  he  says: 


98 

We  cannot  help  t  making,  that  if  Peterborough  does  not  reach  that 
degree  of  prosperity  which,  a  few  years  ago,  she  seemed  destined  to  en- 
joy, she  must  take  "to  herself  all  the  blame.  If  our  business  men  would 
interest  themselves  in  this  matter,  and  make  one-half  the  exertions 
that  are  made  in  many  places  which  we  could  mention,  not  a  single 
year  would  pass  without  changing  the  entire  aspect  of  things  in  Peter- 
borough. We  believe  that  with  no  extraordinary  effort,  and  without 
any  great  outlay  of  capital,  much  of  our  water  power  might  be  used  to 
great  advantage,  and  made  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  town. 
Hut  our  main  object  in  writing  this  article  is  to  direct  the  attention  of 
our  wealthy  citizens,  and  owners  of  real  estate  to  one  branch  of  manu- 
facturing business  which  might  be  carried  on  here  successfully,  and 
tend  as  much  as  anything  else  to  improve  the  value  of  their  property, 
and  give  an  increased  impulse  to  all  kinds  of  business.  We  allude  to  the 
manufacture  of  shoes.  This  appears  to  be  just  the  place  for  carrying 
on  this  business  on  n  large  scale,  and  we  have  often  wondered  that  the 
matter  did  not  arrest  the  attention  of  those  whom  we  know  to  be  anx- 
ious to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  town. 

"All  things  come  to  (hose  who  wait,"  and  Mr.  Cheney  is  here  to 
see  our  town  blessed,  and  not  cursed  as  some  would  have  it,  with 
a  grand  shoe  manufacturing  establishment. 

That  the  tone  of  the  Transcript  has  always  been  loyal  and  pat- 
riotic none  will  deny.  Its  position  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
is  briefly  stated  in  the  following  short  extracts  from  an  editorial 
written  one  week  before  the  fall  of  Sumter  by  a  brother  of  mine 
who  has  since  passed  to  the  silent  majority : 

We  are  persistently  and  unequivocally  for  peace  in  every  contingency, 
but  one.  The  South  may  unite  under  the  confederate  constitution — 
may  throw  all  protection  over  chattel  slavery  that  they  can — may  legis- 
late that  it  is  right  in  principle  and  practically  advantageous  to  the 
States — may  bring  to  the  stake  and  halter  every  abolitionist  that  is  un- 
fortunate enough  to  be  caught  in  their  midst — may  shackle  free  speech 
and  a  free  press — in  fine  may  establish,  strengthen  and  perpetuate  the 
vilest,  most  absolute  and  relentless  despotism  there  is  on  the  face  of 
the  earth — and  still  we  are  for  peace.  *  *  *  *  *  The 
only  contingency  in  which  war  will  be  justifiable,  will  be  when  the 
safety  and  preservation  of  the  great  principles  of  human  brotherhood 
and  equality  established  by  the  revolutionary  struggle  demand  it.  Let 
the  wolves  and  hyenas  howl  so  long  as  they  do  not  attack  us,  but  when 
they  have  shed  one  drop  of  the  blood  of  the  patriots  who  still  stand 
firm  and  brave  under  the  folds  of  the  flag  of  their  country,  preferring 
death  in  its  defence  to  desertion,  it  will  be  time  for  the  great  heart  of 
the  nation  to  quicken  its  pulsations,  and  patriotic  union-loving  freemen 
of  the  North  to  stiffen  their  sinews  for  the  conflict. 

That  these  words  echoed  the  patriotic  sentiment  of  this  commu- 
nity— peace  at  any  cost,  save  dishonor — the  names  on  the  bronze 
tablet  in  yonder  grove,  the  graves  we  annually  decorate,  and  the 
number  here  who  wear  the  veteran's  badge,  give  ample  testimony. 
Of  the  Transcript  under  its  present  administration  I  will  not  speak. 
It  is  familiar  to  you,  being  a  weekly  visitor  in  most  of  your  homes. 
Many  of  yon  have  been  subscribers  from  the  first  issue  until  the 
present  time.  Long  may  it  continue  to  be  worthy  of  your  sup- 
port. 

The  Chairman : 
I  will  now  call  upon  W.  D.  Chase,  M.D.,  to  respond  to  the  toast, 


99 

"THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION." 

MR.  PRESIDENT,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN: — What  the  world  has 
accomplished  during  the  past  fifty  years  is  a  question  of  great  in- 
terest, and  the  answer  returned  is  full  of  gratification. 

Perhaps  in  no  period  in  the  world's  history  has  such  a  great 
revolution  taken  place  in  the  industrial,  mechanical,  political  and 
social  conditions,  as  during  the  past  five  decades.  The  spirit  of  in- 
quiry and  investigation  has  entered  into  every  art  and  science. 
In  no  department  has  there  been  more  painstaking  experiments 
and  patient  investigation  than  in  the  art  and  science  of  medicine. 
Time  will  not  allow  me  even  to  hint  at  the  discoveries  made  as  to 
the  minute  structure  of  the  human  body,  of  the  physiology  of  the 
brain,  the  wonderful  achievements  of  surgery,  the  knowledge  of 
the  causes  of  diseases  and  the  laws  that  govern  them.  Most  of 
the  progress  of  the  world  is  accomplished  by  slow,  patient  toil  and 
study,  but  occasionally  there  appears  a  genius  who  opens  up  new 
fields  of  discovei-ies  and  investigation.  Of  such  a  genius  is  M. 
Pasteur  of  Paris.  His  attention  was  called  to  the  subject  of  the 
fermentation  of  beer  and  wine.  He  found  that  the  change  called 
fermentation  was  caused  by  the  growth  of  a  micro-organism 
that  lived  upon  some  element  in  the  wine  until  that  element  was 
consumed.  He  found  the  process  of  putrefaction  was  brought 
about  by  the  same  process.  As  soon  as  the  life  passes  out  of  an 
animal  organism  it  is  fallen  upon  by  myriads  of  organisms  that  live 
upon  it  until  it  is  all  consumed.  This  and  other  discoveries,  similar 
in  character,  led  the  French  government  to  ask  Pasteur  to  inves- 
tigate the  cause  of  the  disease  that  was  destroying  the  silk-worm. 
The  silk  culture  is  a  great  industry  in  the  south  of  France.  Some 
disease  had  fallen  upon  the  worm,  and  the  industry  was  threat- 
ened with  ruin.  Various  theories  were  advanced  as  to  the  cause  of 
the  disease,  and  hundreds  of  remedies  suggested,  but  nothing  was 
of  any  avail. 

Pasteur  found  that  this  disease  was  caused  by  a  micro-organism 
that  lived  and  flourished  upon  the  worm  until  it  was  destroyed. 
No  curative  means  could  be  found,  but  there  are  to  be  seen  in  all 
of  the  silk  worm  nurseries  in  France  to-day  boys  and  girls  with 
microscopes  examining  the  moth  and  their  eggs,  and  all  of  the  un- 
healthy ones  are  destroyed.  The  silk  industry  of  France  was  thus 
preserved. 

Time  will  not  permit  us  to  speak  of  the  work  he  accomplished 
in  the  study  of  splenic  fever  which  was  rapidly  destroying  the 
cattle  and  sheep  of  France,  and  the  means  he  suggested  to  stay  the 
disease  or  his  more  recent  work  in  hydrophobia,  but  suffice  it  to 
say  that  he  opened  a  field  in  which  others  have  entered  with  fruit- 
ful results. 

It  is  a  generally  adopted  theory,  to-day,  that  infectious  diseases 
are  caused  by  living  organisms.  In  fact  Koch  of  Berlin  has  es- 


100 

the  fact  that  consumption  is  caused  by  a  baccillus  that 
lives  and  flourishes  upon  the  human  organism.  Curative  measures 
in  infectious  diseases  may  never  be  found,  but  preventative  means 
will  be,  and  wide  spread  plagues  and  epidemics  will  be  things  of 
the  past. 

I  have  spoken  more  particularly  of  the  work  of  Pasteur  to  show 
the  line  of  investigation  at  the  present  time,  and  the  beneficent  re- 
sults that  may  be  expected  from  it. 

1  wish  very  briefly  to  speak  of  the  physicians  who  filled  this  field 
for  a  largo  portion  of  the  last  fifty  years :  Drs.  William  Follans- 
bee,  Albert  Smith,  and  Daniel  B.  Cutter,  men  who  ever  took  a 
deep  interest  in  the  educational,  religious,  financial  and  social  af- 
fairs of  the  town. 

Dr.  Follansbee  commenced  his  practice  in  town  in  1826,  and  died 
in  18G7.  He  was  a  good  physician  and  an  upright  man.  A  man 
of  good  judgment  and  of  rare  tact  and  ability. 

Dr.  Smith  commenced  his  practice  in  town  in  1838,  and  died  in 
1878.  He  was  a  man  of  wide  culture  and  attainments.  He  was 
not  only  familiar  with  the  literature  of  his  own  profession  but  in 
general  literature.  He  was  professor  in  the  medical  department  at 
Dartmouth  college  for  twenty-three  years.  He  contributed  arti- 
cles to  the  medical  journals  and  medical  societies,  but  his  chief 
literary  work  was  as  historian  of  his  native  town,  Peterborough, 
which  does  credit  to  his  painstaking  investigation  and  scholarly 
tastes.  He  came  of  a  family  noted  for  their  intellectual  ability 
and  high  moral  character,  and  well  did  Dr.  Smith  maintain  the 
good  name  of  the  family.  . 

Dr.  Cutter,  who,  I  am  pleased  to  say,  is  still  with  us,  commenced 
his  practice  in  town  in  1833,  but  on  account  of  infirmities  and  ad- 
vancing years  has  not  been  in  active  work  for  some  time.  He 
was  a  good  physician  and  an  honorable  man.  He  has  given  some 
attention  to  literary  matters,  being  the  author  of  the  history  of  his 
native  town,  Jaffrey,  N.  H.,  which  does  credit  to  his  patient  re- 
search and  literary  ability.  Long  may  he  live  to  enjoy  the  fruits 
of  an  honorable  career. 

Of  the  successors  of  these  physicians  we  shall  refrain  from  speak- 
ing, leaving  their  merits  or  demerits  to  be  spoken  of  by  others, 
only  hoping  that  they  may  leave  behind  them  as  honorable  a  name 
and  record  as  their  predecessors. 

The  Chairman : 

Peterborough  has  given  to  the  practise  of  law  many  eminent  men 
who  have  honored  the  profe'ssion  and  been  a  credit  to  the  town.     I 
will  ask  Gen.  D.  M.  White  to  respond  to  the  sentiment, 
"THE  LAWYERS  OF  PETERBOROUGH." 

MK.  CHAIRMAN,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN:— Peterborough  is  the 
land  of  my  birth.  Her  babbling  brooks  and  rushing  rivers,  her 


101 

green  pastures  and  flowery  meadows,  her  beautiful  valleys  and 
grand  old  hills,  are  ever  suggesting  happy  incidents  of  my  boy- 
hood days.  The  farm  and  the  school  are  remembered  as  an 
epoch  filled  brim  full  with  hard  work  and  trials,  while  the  office, 
the  struggle  for  success,  the  business  responsibility,  mark  periods 
of  sterner  realities  which  are  ever  filling  my  mind  with  vivid  recol- 
lections of  later  days.  The  reminiscences  of  the  grand  old  town, 
the  memory  of  her  social  and  industrious  people  who  have  been 
my  associates  in  business  and  pleasure,  the  happiness  that  has 
clustered  around  a  happy  home  with  a  loving  wife  and  dear  chil- 
dren in  it,  awakens  in  my  heart  011  this  centennial  day,  when  ab- 
sent sons  and  daughters  return  to  the  land  of  their  nativity  for  a 
reunion  of  hearts  and  an  interchange  of  greetings,  thoughts  which 
lend  a  charm  to  my  whole  life,  although  those  memories  and 
associations  are  not  unalloyed  with  grief  and  sadness.  Here  I 
have  spent  the  greater  part  of  my  life.  I  am  proud  to  be  recorded 
as  one  of  the  sons  of  this  town,  so  many  of  whom  have  distin- 
guished themselves  in  all  of  the  learned  professions  and  in  all  the 
trades  and  callings  of  active  business  life. 

It  is  now  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  since  Peterborough  was 
incorporated  as  a  town  and  assumed  all  the  advantages  and  was 
vested  with  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  municipality,  accord- 
ed to  New  Hampshire  townships  at  that  time.  Fifty  years  ago  the 
good  people  then  living  who  had  been  identified  with  the  interests 
and  instrumental  in  developing  the  growth  and  progress  of  Peter- 
borough, assembled  to  celebrate  in  a  commendable  way  the  results 
of  the  labor  and  enterprise  of  her  citizens  during  the  first  one  hun- 
dred years.  The  success  that  had  been  attained,  the  prosperity 
that  had  been  acquired,  and  the  happiness  that  had  been  enjoyed 
was  not  accomplished  by  any  one  class  of  her  citizens.  The  minis- 
ters, the  doctors,  the  tradesmen,  the  manufacturers,  the  farmers, 
the  artisans,  the  laborers — even  the  lawyers — and  last  but  not  least, 
the  noble  women  of  those  early  days — the  true  wives  and  fond 
mothers  of  that  period — were  all  contributors  to  the  success  and  all 
were  common  recipients  of  those  blessings  which  their  frugality 
and  industry  secured.  We  have  now  reached  the  milestone  of  the 
third  half  century,  and  we  have  come  together  on  this  beautiful  au- 
tumnal day,  beneath  a  bright  sun  and  a  clear  sky,  surrounded  on  ev- 
ery hand  by  the  gorgeous  beauty  of  a  landscape  of  which  none  but 
a  New  Englandcr  can  boast,  and  which  none  but  the  hand  of  God 
can  present,  to  celebrate  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversa- 
ry of  this  grand  old  town,  with  its  picturesque  beauty,  nestling  as 
it  does  in  this  charming  valley  on  either  side  of  our  Contoocook, 
stretching  far  up  on  the  hillside  in  every  direction,  to  cele- 
brate this  epoch  in  a  manner,  I  trust,  as  becomes  a  sober,  thought- 
ful, industrious,  God  fearing,  liberty  loving,  law  abiding  people. 

The  history  of  our  town  has  been  written.     In  it  has  been  told 


102 

the  story  of  her  professional,  industrial  and  social  affairs  of  life. 
Many  of  us  know  that  story  by  heart,  while  some  of  you  who 
are  assembled  here  today  have  had  the  good  fortune  of  a  personal 
acquaintance  with  many  of  the  progressive  men  and  women  who 
have  moved  the  wheels  of  industry  at  home,  and  with  other  of  her 
sons  and  daughters  who  were  raised  and  instructed  here,  and  then 
went  forth  into  other  towns  and  states  and  become  true  and  wor- 
thy representatives  of  the  hardy  and  enterprising-  stock  from 
which  they  sprang,  and  whose  influence  of  mind,  and  strength  of 
muscle,  and  force  of  character,  and  goodness  of  purpose,  has  been 
felt  and  recognized  in  the  march  of  progress,  as  a  power  in  edu- 
cational interests,  in  the  learned  professions,  and  in  all  the  varied 
and  industrial  pursuits  of  life  wherever  they  may  have  been. 

What  a  panorama  of  social,  local  and  national  events  is  pre- 
sented to  our  mind  though  we  are  removed  only  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  from  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  as  we  look  back 
over  this  period  of  time  and  review  our  history.  One  hundred 
and  fifty  years  embracing  the  lifetime  of  several  generations,  yet 
it  is  but  the  morning  hour  of  the  day  that  is  to  come  in  measuring 
the  dui'ation  of  our  Republic  and  the  glory  and  grandeur  it  is  to 
attain.  What  hopes  and  fears  have  crowded  in  upon  the  hearts 
and  minds  of  the  people  who  have  lived  in  this  valley  and  dwelt 
upon  our  everlasting  hills ;  how  many  fond  hopes  must  have  been 
shattered,  how  many  realized ;  what  hardships  and  privations  en- 
dured incident  to  a  new  home  in  a  primeval  forest;  the  encroach- 
ment of  the  home  government  upon  the  rights  our  fathers  sought 
to  establish  in  the  New  World ;  the  perilous  act  and  uncertain  re- 
sult of  secession  from  the  mother  country;  the  declaration  of 
independence,  the  war  of  the  Revolution  culminating  in  victory ; 
the  dawn  of  peace ;  the  establishment  of  the  National  Government 
under  the  Constitution ;  the  bloody  and  sanguinary  wars  with  the 
Indians;  the  war  of  1812  which  resulted  in  securing  the  honor 
of  the  American  flag  on  land  and  sea,  teaching  England  a  lesson 
which  was  as  costly  to  her  as  it  was  humiliating,  that  the  rights 
and  liberties  of  American  citizens  which  were  acquired  as  the"  re- 
sult of  the  Revolution,  were  forever  to  be  respected  and  recognized ; 
the  establishment  of  the  Monroe  doctrine,  in  which  the  people 
of  the  United  States  said  to  all  the  world,  "lay  not  your  hands  ruth- 
f  ally  upon  us,"  and  which  has  ever  since  been  recognized  as  a  well 
defined  principle  of  American  diplomacy ;  the  war  with  Mexico, 
which  was  brought  to  an  early  and  successful  termination,  result- 
ing in  extensive  and  valuable  acquisitions  to  the  United  States, 
extending  our  boundaries  from  ocean  to  ocean,  the  agitation  of  the 
slavery  question;  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  a  cruel  conflict  waged 
on  the  one  hand  by  a  deluded,  misguided  people  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  precept,  wicked  in  its  conception  and  felonious  in  pur- 
pose, and  resisted  on  the  other  hand  by  the  valor  and  patriotism 


103 

of  a  brave  and  determined  people ;  a  war  in  which  more  brave 
men  were  sacrificed  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  more  wealth  ex- 
pended and  property  destroyed  in  carrying  on  the  conflict  for  the 
preservation  and  perpetuation  of  self  government  than  has  been 
lost  and  expended  in  all  the  wars  from  the  days  when  Napoleon 
left  the  field  of  Waterloo. 

Great  financial  embarrassments  have  marked  with  a  black  letter 
different  periods  of  our  country's  existence,  wrecking  commercial 
enterprise,  while  a  thousand  and  one  trials  have  beset  our  prog- 
ress, under  which  a  nation  of  less  will  and  perseverance  than  the 
American  people  Would  have  ignominiously  failed.  To-day  how 
different  are  the  circumstances  of  this  generation.  We  look  out 
upon  our  beautiful  and  happy  homes,  our  productive  farms,  our 
domestic  and  thriving  manufactories.  We  also  look  out  upon  a 
country  made  busy  and  active  with  the  lives  of  sixty -five  millions 
of  people  who  are  at  peace  within  themselves  and  with  the  whole 
civilized  world ;  and  as  we  look  about  us,  and  behold  with  pride 
and  admiration  what  our  ancestors  have  produced  here  in  Peterbo- 
rough and  know  how  well  they  wrought,  when  we  take  a  broader 
view  and  partially  comprehend  what  has  been  accomplished  in 
our  country,  when  we  realize  that  this  local  thrift  and  progress, 
and  all  of  these  great  national  events  and  local  achievements  which 
have  changed  the  circumstances  and  conditions  of  the  whole  hu- 
man race,  and  influenced  for  the  better  all  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
have  transpired,  and  been  accomplished  since  the  day  when  the 
first  adventurous  pioneer  invaded  the  wilderness  that  darkened 
these  waters  and  shaded  these  hillsides,  and  whose  ax  was  then 
heard  ringing  up  and  down  these  valleys,  opening  up  the  forests 
and  letting  in  the  sunlight  of  God  to  warm  and  kiss  the  earth 
which  had  never  been  disturbed,  making  it  a  fit  and  beautiful 
place  for  the  comfort  and  abode  of  man — when  we  comprehend  all 
this  I  say,  notwithstanding  our  ambition  and  enthusiasm,  our 
hearts  command  us  to  halt  on  this  150th  anniversary  of  our  incor- 
poration as  a  town;  sober  minded  reflection  also  commands  us  to- 
day to  stand  still,  for  a  day,  to  turn  the  mind  backward,  and  as  we 
review  our  history,  and  listen  to  the  story  of  this  people,  we  find 
that  Peterborough  has  indeed  just  cause  to  be  proud  of  her  sons 
and  daughters. 

They  might  have  been  seen  and  may  now  be  found  occupying 
honorable  positions  in  all  the  industrial  and  professional  callings 
of  an  active  and  busy  life.  Her  stui'dy  and  honest  yeomanry,  her 
ingenious  mechanics  and  skilled  artisans  are  inferior  to  none.  The 
doctors  she  has  produced  have  stood  high  in  their  profession.  Her 
learned  ministers  of  the  gospel  as  a  rule  have  been  earnest  workers 
in  the  cause  of  Christianity,  and  consistent  men  walking  above  re- 
proach. Peterborough  has  a  right  to  celebrate  over  the  events  ac- 
complished by  her  children  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  because 


104 

they  have  been  identified  with  the  history  and  development  of  the 
whole  country.  Why,  sir,  we  are  lost,  actually  LOST  in  wonder  and 
iima/oment  at  the  thought  of  what  this  young-  Republic  has  accom- 
plished in  this  short  time.  It  is  a  waste  of  time  to  talk  about  the 
weakness  and  instability  of  a  republic.  Since  the  organization  of 
our  government,  kingdoms  and  empires  have  virtually  vanished 
from  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  republics  have  sprung  up  and  are  now 
flourishing  on  the  same  soil.  Thrones  and  dynasties  have  crum- 
bled and  fallen  into  oblivion,  and  yet  the  American  republic  to- 
day is  the  strongest,  the  wealthiest,  the  best,  most  acceptable  gov- 
ernment on  the  face  of  God's  whole  earth.  She  is  growing 
stronger  and  stronger  every  day  by  the  virtue,  wisdom,  and 
good  sense  of  her  people.  She  is  making  wonderful  progress  in 
everything  pertaining  to  civilization.  She  is  developing  her  won- 
derful natural  resources.  Her  vast  mountains  of  gold,  silver,  cop- 
per, coal,  lead,  iron  and  granite  are  being  made  to  yield  up  their 
treasure  of  wealth  for  tho  use  and  benefit  of  man.  Her  great 
manufactories,  watched  over  by  the  most  heroic  and  sagacious 
business  "men  of  the  age,  aided  by  the  keenest  ingenuity  of  the 
human  mind,  are  outstripping  the  manufactories  of  the  old  world. 
She  is  rich  in  intellectual  and  moral  worth,  in  her  educational  and 
scientific  attainments,  which  are  laying  broad  and  deep  the  founda- 
tion for  permanent  self  government,  around  which  the  storms  of 
local  passion  and  prejudice  can  play  with  harmless  impunity,  and 
against  which  the  assaults  of  the  combined  nations  of  the  earth 
cannot  prevail.  It  is  marvellous,  M4\  President,  to  contemplate. 
It  is  wonderful  to  behold ! 

You  have  listened  to-day  fellow  citizens  to  pleasing  and  eloquent 
remarks  from  gentlemen  speaking  upon  subjects  and  institutions 
connected  with  Peterborough,  which  are  and  always  have  been  of 
great  interest  to  us — her  schools,  her  inuanufacturing  and  indus- 
trial pursuits,  her  military  record,  her  Irish  American  citizens,  her 
doctors,  her  ministers,  the  early  homes  and  mothers  of  Peterbo- 
rough, all  of  which  have  been  powerful  factors  and  controlling 
agencies  in  our  progress  and  development.  To  me,  Mr.  Chairman, 
you  have  assigned  the  honor  and  agreeable  duty  of  speaking  for 
another  class  of  our  fellow  citizens,  a  class  who  are  always  able  to 
speak  for  themselves,  and  always  willing  to  speak  for  others  when 
well  paid  for  it;  a  class  who  are  not  to  be,  and  who  from  the  very 
nature  of  their  calling  and  their  existence  among  you,  never  can  be 
forgotten,  a  class  who  have  done  more,  if  I  may  be  pardoned  for 
beijig  egotistical,  nojt  for  myself,  but  for  the  whole  fraternity, 
for  the  material,  to  say  nothing  about  the  spiritual  prosperi- 
ty  of  the  town  than  any  one  class  of  her  citizens,  and  which  has 
been  done  in  that  self  sacrificing,  gracious,  unbegrudging  manner 
that  always  commends  itself  to  a  Christian  community,  yet,  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  and  in  order  to  save  a  contradiction  of  rny  state- 


105 

ment  upon  a  point,  which  in  itself  is  quite  natural  and  cannot  be 
successfully  defended,  I  am  willing  to  concede,  that  while  they 
have  been  honored  and  trusted  servants  of  the  community,  they 
have  been  only  human,  and  most  generally,  when  serving  public 
and  private  enterprise  with  what  they  have  had,  which  has  princi- 
pally been,  "undivided  support"  and  "gratuitous  advice,"  have  had 
an  eye  open  for  themselves,  sometimes,  of  course,  just  the  same  as 
the  doctors  and  ministers  have !  I  refer  to  and  am  speaking  of 
"The  Lawyers  of  Peterborough,"  and  I  suppose,  Mr.  President 
and  fellow  citizens,  that  in  listening  to  what  I  have  said,  you  have 
been  asking  yourselves,  what  has  all  this  to  do  with  the  lawyers  of 
Peterborough,  or  what  have  the  lawyers  of  Peterborough  had  to 
do  with  all  this?  Why,  sir,  they  have  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with 
all  this.  In  the  brief  time  allowed  me  in  which  to  prepare  to 
speak  for  this  profession,  I  have  been  unable  to  procure  facts  and 
dates  such  as  would  enable  me  to  do  justice  to  the  learning,  ability 
and  character  of  each  one  of  them  individually,  so  instead  of  fol- 
lowing the  old  stereotyped  way  of  saying  good  things  about  good 
men,  I  have  referred  to  the  progress,  development  and  prosperity 
of  our  town  and  nation  in  a  general  way,  embracing  principles 
almost  entirely  of  a  public  character,  instead  of  dwelling  upon  in- 
dividual characteristics  of  those  men,  and  in  that  way  speak  words 
of  praise  and  commendation  of  the  "Lawyers  of  Peterborough" 
by  showing  that  they  have  contributed  toward  all  this,  and  have 
to  a  greater  or  less  degree  been  instrumental  in  accomplishing 
these  great  and  grand  results. 

My  fellow  citizens,  go  back  with  me  to  1777,  and  we  find  the  boy 
Jerry  Smith  fighting  the  battles  of  his  country  at  Bennington,  and 
in  1787  after  having  been  educated  at  Harvard  and  Rutger's  Col- 
leges we  find  him  practicing  law  in  this  town  as  the  first  lawyer 
who  settled  here,  where  he  remained  ten  years,  and  it  is  said  of 
him,  and  to  his  credit,  that  he  never  found  time  to  encourage  or 
to  engage  in  the  petty  law  suits  of  the  citizens,  which,  according  to 
all  accounts  were  numerous  and  often  bitter.  While  he  remained 
in  Peterborough  he  served  three  terms  in  the  State  legislature, 
during  which  time  he  revised  the  laws  of  New  Hampshire.  Ho 
was  a  conspicuous  member  of  the  convention  which  framed  the 
present  State  constitution.  In  1790  he  was  elected  as  representa- 
tive to  the  second  congress  of  the  United  States,  being  elected  to 
that  office  during  four  successive  terms,  serving  with  distinction 
through  the  most  important  period  of  our  country's  history.  In 
1797  he  was  appointed  United  States  District  Attorney  for  New 
Hampshire.  In  1800  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  Probate  for  Hock- 
ingharn  County.  In  1801  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  United 
States  Circuit  Court  for  the  District  of  New  Hampshire.  In  1802 
he  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Judicature 
in  New  Hampshire,  which  office  lie  held  until  1809,  when  he  was 


I0f> 

chosen  Governor  of  the  State.  In  1810  he  resumed  his  practice  at 
the  bar,  and  in  1813  was  again  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  continued  in  office  until  1816,  at  which  time,  after 
a  conspicuous  and  honorable  career,  he  withdrew  from  public  life 
and  again  resumed  his  profession,  which  he  followed  until  1820. 
and  then  retired  from  active  practice.  He  died  in  1842  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years.  As  a  lawyer,  legislator,  judge  of  probate,  judge 
of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  chief  justice  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  New  Hampshire,  governor,  and  representative 
in  Congress,  his  acts  and  deeds  shine  forth  prominently  and  clear- 
ly in  the  history  of  the  State.  He  was  truly  "a  sage  of  the  law," 
without  doubt  was  one  of  the  ablest  men  New  Hampshire  ever 
produced,  and  above  all  and  over  all,  he  was  a  citizen  of  stainless 
character  and  an  honest  man.  Such,  briefly  told,  was  the  brilliant 
and  honorable  career  of  the  first  lawyer  who  ever  practiced  in 
Peterborough.  Now  my  friends,  if  you  will  follow  me  down 
through  the  generations  from  that  time  to  the  present,  a  period  of 
one  hundred  and  two  years,  you  will  be  able  to  catch  a  bird's  eye 
view  of  what  the  "Lawyers  of  Peterborough"  have  done,  how  they 
have  been  engaged,  and  many  of  you  knowing  them  as  you  have, 
can  gather  some  inspiration  from  the  active  lives  and  honorable 
deeds  of  the  men  for  whom  I  am  speaking. 

Since  the  days  of  Jeremiah  Smith  to  the  present  time  there  have 
been  seventeen  lawyers  located  in  Peterborough,  viz. :  Jeremiah 
Smith,  James  Wilson,  Stephen  P.  Steele,  James  "Walker,  Artemas  L. 
Holmes,  David  J.  Clark,  Edward  S.  Cutter,  Charles  G.  Cheney, 
George  A.  Ramsdell,  Cornelius  V.  Dearborn,  Albert  S.  Scott, 
Eugene  Lewis,  Riley  B.  Hatch,  Ezra  M.  Smith,  Frank  G.  Clarke, 
James  F.  Brennan  and  myself.  Of  this  number  seven  of  them, 
viz.:  Jeremiah  Smith,  James  Wilson,  Stephen  P.  Steele,  Artemas 
L.  Holmes,  Albert  S.  Scott,  James  F.  Brennan,  and  myself  are  na- 
tives of  the  town. 

To  sum  up  what  they  have  done  during  the  one  hundred  and  two 
years,  I  am  only  able  to  speak  of  their  lives  and  character,  of  their 
social,  public  and  private  qualities  as  men,  and  allude  to  their 
work  and  worth  in  a  general  way,  because  it  is  my  purpose  at 
this  time  to  speak  in  an  individual  manner  of  the  learning  and 
ability  of  but  a  few  of  these  men,  and  the  uprightness  with  which 
they  have  discharged  the  varied  duties  and  responsible  trusts 
which  their  fellow  citizens  have  called  upon  them  to  perform. 

Prominent  among  the  first  lawyers  who  practiced  in  Peterbo- 
rough and  who  followed  immediately  after  Jeremiah  Smith,  was 
James  Wilson,  a  native  of  this  town.  He  was  born  August  16r 
1700,  and  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1789.  He  read  law 
with  Judge  Lincoln  of  Worcester  and  Judge  Jeremiah  Smith  of 
Peterborough,  and  was  admitted  to  the  New  Hampshire  bar  in 
J792  and  commenced  practice  in  Peterborough,  where  he  remained 


107 

for  twenty-three  years,  after  which,  in  1815  he  removed  to  Keene. 
He  was  a  man  and  a  lawyer  of  no  ordinary  ability  and  won  for 
himself  by  his  tact,  legal  acumen,  and  fidelity  to  his  clients,  an  en- 
viable reputation  among  the  lawyers,  not  only  in  Hillsborough 
and  Cheshire  Counties  where  he  had  an  extensive  practice,  but 
throughout  the  State.  For  thirteen  consecutive  years  he  repre- 
sented tViis  town  in  the  popular  branch  of  the  legislature,  which  of 
itself  is  a  compliment,  proclaiming  to  this  and  succeeding  genera- 
tions the  confidence  that  his  fellow  citizens  had  in  his  integrity 
and  ability.  He  was  also  elected  to  the  eleventh  congress  by  the 
Federalists  in  1809,  but  served  only  one  term  as  about  that  time  the 
Federalist  party  began  to  lose  its  power  and  influence.  He  died 
at  Keene,  N.  H.,  in  1849,  aged  seventy-three  years,  honored  and 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Stephen  P.  Steele  is  another  of  the  pioneer  lawyers  of  Peterbo- 
rough. He  was  born  in  this  town  July  26,  1784,  graduated  at 
Williams  college  in  1809,  read  law  in  the  office  of  James  Wilson 
in  Peterborough,  and  practiced  his  profession  here  from  the  time 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  about  1812,  until  about  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1857.  He  represented  the  town  in  the  legislature  two 
years,  and  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  constitutional  convention  in 
1850.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  fair  ability  and  always  evinced  a  lively 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  Peterborough. 

James  Walker,  a  son  of  Peterborough  by  adoption,  was  another 
conspicuous  character  in  the  legal  fraternity  of  the  town.  Born  in 
Rindge  in  1784,  and  graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1804. 
He  came  to  Peterborough  in  1814  and  began  the  practice  of  law, 
which  he  continued  with  success  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1854.  He  was  a  man  who  stood  eminent  in  his  pro- 
fession, a  man  of  brains  and  intellectual  ability,  with  a  strong 
mind  and  unbending  force  of  purpose.  He  was  a  man  whom 
many  of  the  older  inhabitants  remember  well.  Many  of  you  re- 
member him  I  presume,  partially  on  account  of  his  quaint  unyield- 
ing mind,  uncommon  traits  of  character,  and  freaks  of  eccentric 
habits  peculiar  to  James  Walker  alone,  and  partially  from  his  good 
citizenship,  his  true  worth  as  a  friend  and  sterling  integrity  as  a  man. 
From  what  I  have  been  able  to  learn  about  Mr.  AValker,  which  has 
been  obtained  principally  from  some  of  the  older  residents,  I  arn 
happily  led  to  believe,  that  he  was  indeed  one  of  the  remarkable 
men  of  his  age  and  generation,  and  I  regret  that  nowhere  have  1 
been  able  to  find  a  just  and  suitable  record  of  this  man  who  was  so 
long  identified  with  the  interests  of  Peterborough,  except  that  his- 
tory which  is  recorded  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow  citizens  who  had 
the  good  fortune  to  serve  on  the  stage  of  active  life  with  him,  and 
therefore  knew  him  best.  The  unqualified  verdict  of  these  people 
is,  that  he  always  identified  himself  with  whatever  seemed  for  the 
interest  of  Peterborough,  and  in  all  such  matters,  whether  public 


108 

or  private,  his  sound  judgement  was  always  sought  and  his  wise 
counsel  always  followed.  For  forty  years  this  man  practiced 
among  his  neighbors  and  fellow  townsmen,  a  profession  which 
many  people  unjustly  repute  as  unquestionably  bad,  if  not  abso- 
lutely disreputable,  and  yet,  at  the  end  of  that  time  so  honorable 
and  upright  had  been  his  life  and  dealings  with  his  fellow  men  that 
he  closed  the  door  of  his  office  behind  hint  and  went  home  to  lie 
down  and  die  among  the  people  with  whom  he  had  spent  an  active  and 
conspicuous  life  without  an  enemy  in  the  whole  community.  He 
was  a  man  who  carried  influence' and  conviction  with  him  because 
of  his  honesty  of  purpose  and  personal  disinterestedness,  a  man  of 
whom  much  more  can  be  said  than  I  would  be  justified  in  saying 
at  this  time,  and  I  can  do  no  more  and  say  no  less  than  by  closing 
with  the  plain,  ungarnished  statement  which  I  know  will  be  en- 
dorsed by  all  who  knew  him,  that  whatever  he  did,  whatever  he 
said,  and  wherever  he  went,  whether  in  public  or  private  af- 
fairs, whether  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  or  in  social  and 
personal  relations  with  his  fellow  beings,  he  was  actuated  by  un- 
selfish motives,  uninfluenced  for  personal  gain,  and  was  al- 
ways found  on  the  side  of  right,  truth  and  justice,  standing  head 
and  shoulders  above  other  men  of  greater  pretentious.  What 
greater  tribute  can  be  paid  a  man,  what  more  can  a  man  desire 
when  he  is  ready  to  lie  down  and  die  after  a  long  and  useful  life, 
than  a  statement  like  this,  coming  as  it  does  from  the  hearts  of  all 
the  people,  as  their  honest,  unqualified  verdict  of  their  respect  and 
esteem  of  the  man,  who  has  not  only  been  their  friend  and  neigh- 
bor, but  their  counsellor  and  adviser  for  forty  years  in  all  the 
trials  and  vicissitudes  incident  to  public  and  private  life? 

Artemas  L.  Holmes,  a  native  of  this  town,  was  a  graduate  from 
Dartmouth  in  1835,  read  law,  and  after  being  admitted  to  the  bar, 
practiced  a  short  time  in  Peterborough,  then  went  to  St.  Louis 
where  he  practiced  a  number  of  years,  then  removed  to  New  York 
City  where  he  died  in  1871.  David  J.  Clark  was  also  a  lawyer  in 
this  town  at  one  time,  but  I  have  been  unable  to  learn  anything 
very  definitely  of  him  here  or  his  career  elsewhere.  Edward  S. 
Cutter  is  another  lawyer  who  deserves  special  mention,  and  who 
is  well  remembered  by  many  of  the  older  people  now  living.  I  do 
not  remember  when  Mr.  Cutter  was  a  citizen  of  Peterborough,  my 
acquaintance  with  him  dating  from  about  the  time  I  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1874.  He  was  a  native  of  Jaffrey  and  graduated  from 
Dartmouth  College  in  1844,  and  was  principal  of  Peterborough 
Academy  for  two  years  after,  from  1844  to  1846,  proving  himself 
to  be  a  thorough  and  popular  teacher.  He  then  began  the  study  of 
law  which  he  pursued  until  1849  in  the  office  of  Hon.  James  Walk- 
er of  Peterborough  and  Judge  Daniel  Clark  of  Manchester.  In  " 
1849  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  Hillsborough  County  bar  he  be- 
gan his  practice  in  Peterborough,  where  he  continued  and  enjoyed 


109 

a  large  and  ever  increasing  business  until  1858,  when  he  removed 
to  Amherst  to  assume  the  duties  of  clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  for 
Hillsborough  County,  which  office  he  held  and  filled  with  ability 
and  satisfaction  to  the  court  until  about  1870,  when  he  removed  to 
Boston  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  that  city.  He 
returned  to  Nashua  a  few  years  since,  where  he  is  now  engage  d 
in  practicing  law.  As  a  member  of  the  ''green  bag"  fraternity  he 
has  always  stood  high  in  the  profession,  as  a  man  he  has  the  con- 
fidence and  friendship  of  all,  and  as  a  citizen  is  honored  and  re- 
spected by  everybody  where  he  has  lived.  George  A.  Ramsdell, 
Cornelius  V.  Dearborn  and  Eugene  Lewis  were  all  practicing  law- 
yers in  Peterborough,  the  two  former  for  a  number  of  years. 
They  were  all  men  of  unquestionable  integrity,  lawyers  of  good 
ability,  having  the  confidence  of  all  who  knew  them.  They  re- 
quired and  sought  larger  fields  of  practice,  and  Messrs.  Ramsdell 
and  Dearborn  moved  to  Nashua  a  number  of  years  ago,  and  Mr. 
Lewis  removed  and  located  in  Moline,  111.,  a  few  years  later,  where 
he  is  now  engaged  in  a  lucrative  and  extensive  business. 

Albert  S.  Scott  is  the  next  Peterborough  lawyer  on  our  list. 
Having  been  born  here,  and  having  been  prominently  associated 
with  the  business  and  prosperity  of  the  town  during  his  whole  life, 
something  more  than  a  passing  notice  of  him  is  required  at  this 
time  and  on  this  occasion.  Mr.  Scott  was  born  in  1824  and  lived 
here  until  he  died  in  1877,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years'  tem- 
porary absence.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
town,  at  Peterborough  Academy,  Hancock  Literary  and  Scientific 
Institute,  Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  and  was  at  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege one  year.  From  the  time  he  was  about  fifteen  years  old  un- 
til 1859  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  he  devoted  more  or  less 
of  his  time  to  teaching.  As  a  teacher  his  course  of  instruction 
was  thorough  and  systematic  and  therefore  successful.  He  ren- 
dered a  vast  amount  of  gratuitous  service,  and  devoted  much  time 
to  our  public  schools.  For  many  years  he  was  an  active  and  use- 
ful member  of  the  superintending  school  committee.  This  is  a  pub- 
lic duty  that  has  always  been  done  in  Peterborough  without  thanks, 
compensation  or  reward  of  any  kind,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
it  is  one  of  the  most  important  and  responsible  positions  in  town 
and  one  that  always  sought  the  best  mind,  the  richest  and  clearest 
intellect,  and  well  did  Mr.  Scott  perform  the  full  share  of  this  gra- 
tuitous and  unappreciated  work.  I  remember  well  when  a  lad  in 
school  the  frequent  visits  that  Mr.  Scott  made  to  the  old  school 
house  on  the  hill,  sometimes  appearing  as  a  matter  of  official  duty 
to  direct  and  encourage  in  educational  affairs,  somelimes  at  the 
request  of  the  teacher  or  in  response  to  the  petition  of  a  parent  to 
discharge  a. sterner  responsibility  which  was  incumbent  on  the  "com- 
mittee man."  It  was  sometimes  to  give  a  moral  lecture,  sometimes 
to  reprimand  and  not  unfrequcntly  to  expel  a  bad  boy  with  a  vicious 


110 

heart,  ami  reprehensible,  untamed,  and  ungovernable  spirit.  What- 
ever was  the  object  of  his  visit  we  were  always  sure  that  it  would 
be  accomplished  without  an  apology  on  his  part.  His  influence  in 
school  matters  was  felt  and  always  recognized  as  long  as  he  lived, 
and  every  boy  who  was  struggling  to  get  an  education  and  wanted 
a  friend  to  assist  and  encourage  him  found  such  a  friend  in  Mr. 
Scott.  Soon  after  he  left  college  he  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  Dr.  Albert  Smith  and  attended  one  course  of  medical  lectures 
at  Dartmouth  Medical  College,  but  for  some  reason  he  then  aban- 
doned the  study  of  medicine  and  began  the  study  of  law  with 
Dearborn  &  Cheney,  then  practicing  in  Peterborough,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Hillsborough  County  bar  in  1859.  My  impression  is 
he  first  located  for  the  practice  of  his  professeon  in  East  Jaffrey, 
and  after  remaining  there  for  a  short  time  returned  and  established 
himself  in  Peterborough,  where  he  continued  in  practice  until  the 
time  of  his  death,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Peterborough. 
He  was  a  man  of  excellent  ability  and  stood  well  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession. As  a  lawyer  he  was  considered  a  safe  and  conscientious 
adviser  and  an  excellent  general  practitioner ;  but  without  doubt 
he  appeared  to  the  best  advantage  as  an  able  and  effective  advo- 
cate. In  this  branch  of  the  profession  he  excelled,  and  it  is  not 
saying  too  much  to  state  that  he  had  but  a  few  if  any  superiors  in 
the  Hillsborough  County  bar.  He  was  entrusted  with  many  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  responsibility  by  his  fellow  citizens  during  his 
lifetime,  among  which  I  may  mention  that  he  represented  the  town 
four  years  in  the  popular  branch  of  the  legislature  and  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Governor's  council  two  terms,  in  1875  and  1876. 
Mr.  Scott  was  a  man  of  noble  qualities  of  heart,  a  patriotic,  enter- 
prising citizen,  and  an  earnest,  zealous  worker  in  charitable  as  well 
as  public  enterprises,  always  identifying  himself  with  the  social 
affairs  and  business  interests  of  his  native  town.  He  was  a  good 
friend  to  all  who  would  be  befriended,  a  devoted  husband,  and  a 
consistent  Christian  worker.  As  a  man,  he  was  dignified  in  manner, 
decided  in  principle  and  firm  in  the  faith  that  was  in  him.  As  a 
gentleman,  he  was  genial,  in  principle  generous,  gladdening  the 
hearts  of  those  with  whom  he  had  social  and  business  relations. 
In  principle  and  example  he  lived  a  noble,  upright  life,  and  died 
trusting  explicitly  in  his  Lord  and  Master,  whom  he  had  tried  con- 
scientiously to  serve  all  his  life.  By  his  death  Peterborough  lost 
one  of  her  most  honored  citizens,  and  his  premature  and  untimely 
death  was  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him. 

In  addition  to  the  seventeen  lawyers  who  have  practiced  in  town 
there  are  thirty-one  natives  of  Peterborough  who  have  read  law 
and  practiced  elsewhere,  viz. :  Jonathan  Steele,  John  Wilson,  Zach- 
eus  Porter,  David  Steele,  Jonathan  Steele  2d,  David  Steele,  David 
Steele  2d,  Isaac  P.  Osgood,  Amasa  Edes,  David  Scott,  Gustavus 


Ill 

Swan,  Gen.  James  Miller,  Thomas  F.  Goodhue,  Stephen  Mitchell, 
John  Stuart,  Charles  Jesse  Stuart,  James  AVilson,  Jr.,  Jonathan 
Smith,  Jr.,  George  Walker,  Nathaniel  Holmes,  Samuel  A.  Holmes, 
Bernard  B.  Whittemore,  James  Smith,  George  A.  Hunt,  John  P. 
Allison,  Samuel  John  Todd,  Frederick  C.  Ingalls,  Timothy  K. 
Ames  2d,  Jonathan  Smith,  Will  A.  Scott,  and  Frank  H.  Mackintosh. 
Many  of  these  men  like  many  of  those  who  have  practiced  in  Pe- 
terborough were  strong,  forcible  men.  We  find  them  in  all  parts 
of  our  land  leading  lights  in  the  legal  profession,  in  education, 
literature,  politics — men  of  worth  and  genuine  integrity,  pos- 
sessing judgment  and  sterling  common  sense.  All  of  these  men 
furnish  examples  of  strong  intellectual  ability,  adorned  with  a  fin- 
ished and  classical  education.  Therefore  you  will  observe  if  I  have 
not  over  estimated  the  worth,  and  drawn  too  bright  a  picture  of 
the  work  that  the  "Lawyers  of  Peterborough"  have  wrought,  that 
they  have  played  no  unimportant  part  in  the  work  of  our  govern- 
ment at  home  and  abroad,  the  freest  and  best  this  side  of  Heaven, 
and  which  indeed  is  founded  upon  the  unwritten  law  of  God,  yet, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  our  government  is  anchored  upon 
such  principles  as  the  Great  Law  Giver  has  promulgated  for  the 
government  of  all  the  people  and  nations  of  the  earth,  you  could 
iiot  carry  out  its  principles  and  precepts,  life  would  not  be 
safe,  liberty  would  be  lost,  and  the  pursuits  and  happiness  of  man 
would  be  sacrificed  were  it  not  for  the  legal  men  of  our  land,  who, 
by  their  legal  training  vitalize  these  precepts  and  principles  of  law 
and  become  the  means  and  end  of  putting  them  into  practical  op- 
eration. Without  written,  well  defined  and  well  executed  law, 
men  could  not  be  qualified  to  respect  constituted  authority  and  gov- 
ernment could  not  be  maintained.  Without  lawyers  to  propound 
and  define  what  law  is  good  and  what  is  bad,  all  business  and  com- 
mercial interest,  and  society,  which  is  the  foundation  upon  which 
the  whole  superstructure  of  government  is  built,  would  become 
disorganized,  and  in  a  short  time  the  people  would  become  incapa- 
ble of  self  government.  Without  law  and  lawyers,  kingdoms  and 
empires  and  republics  would  become  convulsed  with  taint  and  cor- 
ruption, riot  and  passion  would  assume  dominion,  strife  and  war 
would  follow,  and  ruin  would  be  the  inevitable  prelude  to  the 
downfall  of  any  government. 

Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  Nineveh  and  Babylon,  Egypt  and  Jerusa- 
lem, Greece,  Carthage  and  Rome  in  the  decline  of  their  influence 
and  power,  and  glory,  furnish  examples  of  overwhelming  evidence 
of  the  destruction  of  nations  when  the  people  begin  to  disregard 
sound  law  and  good  government.  As  this  decline  gradually  but 
surely  came  upon  those  once  mighty  nations,  occasioned  by  a  de- 
generation of  their  once  learned  and  classic  people,  and  a  disregard 
for  their  former  love  of  justice  and  observance  of  order,  neither 


112 

the  fiery  eloquence  of  Cicero,  nor  the  logic  of  Demosthenes  could 
turn  back  the  hearts  of  the  people  from  pending  ruin. 

It  was  the  law  and  order,  tempered  with  right  and  justice  flow- 
ing out  and  shimmering  in  a  blaze  of  living  light  from  the  brain  of 
Adams  and  JeflVrson  and  other  apostles  of  American  liberty  that 
brought  us  out  of  the  land  of  bondage  into  the  land  of  freedom. 
Thus  we  see  that  the  richest,  most  cultivated  and  most  powerful 
nations,  with  all  their  armies  and  navies,  with  all  their  schools  and 
sciences  have  been  virtually  swept  from  the  face  of  the  earth  be- 
cause they  have  disregarded  the  law  and  order  made  and  estab- 
lished for  them,  which  is  the  foundation  upon  which  states  and 
nations  as  well  as  society  stand.  Remove  a  nation's  virtue  and  re- 
lax the  administration  of  justice  and  you  take  away  every  element 
which  is  capable  of  holding  her  together  and  making  her  grand  and 
great  as  well  as  progressive  and  permanent.  The  ministration  of 
the  law  strikes  at  the  roots  of  those  disorganizing  principles  of 
profligacy  and  vice  which  endanger  and  destroy  the  rights  and  lib- 
erties of  the  people  and  disturb  the  peace  and  happiness  of  society. 
It  cannot  be  denied  but  what  lawyers  advance  the  interest  of  good 
government  and  make  the  prosperity  of  a  community  possible  and 
prepare  a  people  for  a  higher  and  more  perfect  state  of  existence, 
making  them  better  in  all  the  social,  civil  and  religious  relations  they 
sustain  on  earth,  man  toward  man  and  man  toward  God. 

Circumstances  interpose,  and  time  forbids  allowing  me  to  follow 
each  one  of  those  gentlemen  through  life  and  presenting  even  a 
brief  abstract  of  the  varied  and  interesting  work  of  their  public 
and  private  career.  I  cannot,  however,  forego  the  pleasure  that  it 
will  afford  me  to  mention  the  name  of  one  of  these  gentlemen  whom 
I  am  delighted  to  welcome  here  to-day,  and  I  know  he  will  pardon 
me  for  speaking  of  him  in  his  presence,  because  of  the  respect  and 
mutual  friendship  we  have  always  entertained  for  each  other,  one 
who  is  not  only  a  brother  lawyer  and  a  comrade,  but  one  who  has 
been  my  friend  all  his  life;  I  refer  to  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Smith  of 
Clinton,  Mass.,  who  has  so  ably  spoken  to  you  this  afternoon  upon 
the  "Military  Record  of  Peterborough."  We  were  boys  together. 
We  were  born  and  reared  side  by  side  in  the  same  neighborhood. 
We  have  slept  in  the  same  bed,  we  have  both  known  when  boys 
what  hard  work  was  on  a  farm.  His  father's  and  my  father's  land 
adjoined  and  we  have  sweat  together  in  the  same  hay  field.  We 
have  looked  into  the  field  where  the  other  was  hard  at  work,  and  I 
presume  he  has  wished  that  I  had  to  do  his  work,  as  I  have  wished 
I  hat  he  had  to  do  mine.  This  we  did  as  a  matter  of  course  with 
the  best  of  feelings  one  toward  the  other.  We  drank — water — from 
the  same  jug,  as  in  after  years  we  "drank  from  the  same  canteen." 
We  attended  the  same  school,  tumbled  in  the  same  snow,  "toed  the 
same  crack,"  and  have  been  chastised  with  the  same  rod.  We  have 
had  our  school  boy  quarrels  and  bloodless  encounters,  using  ex- 


113 

pressions  toward  each  other  which  are  nowhere  to  be  found  in  the 
Christian  catechism,  and  have  hurled  language  at  one  another  which 
was  never  taught  us  in  the  Sunday  school.  When  a  boy,  as  now  a 
man,  he  "caught  on"  easily.  It  was  no  task  for  him  to  learn  his 
lessons.  A  little  time  devoted  to  his  books  kept  him  ahead  of  his 
fellows.  Unfortunately,  this  gave  him  ample  time  for  mischief- 
making  with  steady  going  boys  like  myself.  I  always  sat  beside 
him  in  school  and  had  to  hold  close  communion  with  my  books  all  day 
long  whether  it  was  what  was  most  agreeable  to  me  or  not.  I  used 
to  envy  him  because  he  had  so  much  time  for  sly,  questionable  rec- 
reation during  the  six  hours  in  the  day  which  has  been  set  aside  in 
New  England  from  time  immemorial  for  school  purposes.  I  re- 
member that  on  a  certain  occasion,  in  order  to  test  the  sincerity  and 
tenderness  of  his  friendship,  while  he  was  at  the  blackboard  explain- 
ing an  example  in  mathematics,  which  he  had  the  audacity  to  believe 
he  could  do  better  than  I  could,  I  placed  a  large  tack  in  his  seat,  the 
most  agravating  and  tenacious  part  pointing  upwards.  Upon  re- 
turning to  his  seat  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  the  cruel  little 
villain  who  almost  seemed  to  reach  up  for  his  victim,  the  conse- 
quences and  logical  exclamations  resulting  from  the  weight  of  a 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pound  boy -coming  in  contact  with  such  a 
sly  little  intruder  are  better  understood  by  observation,  combined 
with  a  little  experience,  than  by  description ! !  In  consequence  of 
this  and  one  or  two  other  similar  experiences  that  really  puts  a  se- 
vere test  to  even  a  boy's  goodness  and  Christianity,  I  came  to 
the  conclusion  that,  if  he  should  choose  the  law  as  his  profession 
he  would  make  a  success  of  it,  as  the  phrases  and  expressions  then 
used,  if  not  strictly  of  legal  form  and  import,  were  certainly  clear, 
comprehensive  snid  forcible,  although  I  have  never  seen  any  such 
language  or  quotations  as  he  used  in  any  of  the  ancient  or  even 
modern  text  books.  These  little  episodes  were  only  the  freaks  of 
school  boys,  and  if  ever  there  were  any  hard  feelings  between  us, 
it  lasted  only  for  a  day.  We  served  in  the  same  company  and  regi- 
ment in  the  military  service  of  the  United  States  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion.  We  were  not  only  comrades,  but  fast  friends.  As  we 
had  slept  in  the  same  bed  when  boys,  so  in  the  war  we  slept  in  the 
same  bunk  and  beside  the  same  camp  fire.  WTe  drank  from  the 
same  cup,  fed  with  the  same  knife  and  fork,  and  sipped  from  the 
same  spoon.  As  we  had  worked  side  by  side  in  the  same  field  of 
corn  when  boys,  later  on  we  fought  side  by  side  on  the  same 
field  of  battle  for  the  defense  of  our  country's  flag  and  to  preserve 
the  nation's  honor.  We  shared  together  the  dangers  of  the  picket 
post  and  skirmish  line,  the  fatigue  of  the  inarch,  and  the  monoto- 
ny of  the  camp,  lie  was  a  good  soldier,  a  true  comrade,  and 
when  that  time  shall  come,  as  it  is  sure  to  come,  that  moves  us  on- 
ward and  completes  the  inevitable  destiny  of  all  the  children  of 
men,  and  when  the  marble  shaft  is  placed  to  point  out  to  his  pos- 


114 

terity  and  to  future  generations  the  final  resting  place  where  sleeps 
u  brave  soldier,  a  true  patriot,  a  good  and  noble  man,  an  appropri- 
priatc  epitaph  to  be  placed  upon  that  monument  would  be,  "He 
ate  his  hard  tack  without  grumbling."  From  the  war  we  returned 
to  the  home  of  our  fathers  together.  Later  on  we  were  reading 
law  at  the  same  time,  and  since  then  we  have  made  its  practice  our 
regular  profession.  Really,  pur  lives  have  seemed  to  run  from 
earliest  boyhood  in  the  same  channel,  and  as  real  as  that  seems  to 
us,  we  have  been  equally  as  true  friends. 

After  being  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1865  he  completed  his 
course  of  education,  entering  Dartmouth  in  1867,  and  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  1871.  While  in  college  he  was  perse- 
vering as  well  as  industrious,  having  an  object  in  view,  which  was 
to  fit  himself  for  an  honorable,  useful  life,  relying  entirely  upon  his 
own  resources  and  ability  to  furnish  the  sinews  necessary  to  secure 
a  college  education.  In  the  fall  of  1870  while  in  college,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1871  after  graduating,  he  taught  the  academy  at  Lancaster. 
N.  H.  lie  was  editor  of  the  Coos  Republican  from  December, 
1871,  to  June,  1773.  His  pithy  articles  and  sharp  thrusts  estab- 
lished his  reputation  as  an  able  and  fearless  champion  of  his  polit- 
ical faith.  The  editor's  chair,  however,  was  not  the  place  for 
which  he  educated  himself,  and  in  June,  1873,  he  entered  the  law 
office  of  Cross  &  Burnham  in  Manchester,  was  admitted  to  the 
Hillsborough  County  bar  in  January,  1875,  and  immediately  opened 
an  office  in  that  city  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
was  elected  city  solicitor  of  Manchester  in  1876,  re-elected  to  the 
same  office  in  1877  and  again  in  1878.  In  1878  he  removed  to  Clin- 
ton, Mass.,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  an  extensive  law 
practice.  He  was  special  justice  of  the  second  district  court  of 
Eastern  Worcester  from  1881  to  1886,  at  which  time  he  resigned  to 
take  his  seat  in  the  Massachusetts  house  of  representatives,  having 
been  elected  a  member  of  that  body  from  the  fifth  Worcester  rep- 
resentative district,  comprising  the  city  of  Clinton  and  six  neigh- 
boring towns,  which  office  he  held  one  year.  He  was  reappointed 
special  justice  of  the  second  district  court  of  Eastern  Worcester  in 
1889,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

This  honorable  record  of  my  estimable  brother,  proves  conclu- 
sively that  he  is  in  truth  and  fact  a  worthy  scion  of  his  distin- 
guished progenitor  of  whom  I  have  spoken ;  that  he  has  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  the  whole  community  in  which  he  lives  and 
to  which  he  is  justly  entitled ;  and  from  among  all  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  Peterborough,  and  my  many  friends  who  have  re- 
turned to-day  to  the  old  hearthstone  from  all  over  our  country, 
there  are  none  I  am  more  glad  to  see,  and  no  one  to  whom  I  ex- 
tend a  more  cordial  welcome  and  fraternal  greeting  than  to  him. 

There  is  now  a  larger  number  of  lawyers  in  Peterborough  than 
has  been  located  here  at  any  one  time  before.  This  may  indicate 


115 

one  condition  of  things  and  yet  mean  quite  another.  One  might 
naturally  think  and  perhaps  be  led  to  believe  that  the  love  of  strife 
among  the  citizens  was  increasing,  that  the  moral  atmosphere  was 
becoming  contaminated  with  ungodly  things,  and  that  the  temper 
of  the  inhabitants  was  getting  to  be  unquestionably  bad.  Quite 
the  opposite,  however,  prove  to  be  the  real  facts  in  the  case.  Lit- 
igation and  lawsuits  are  constantly  growing  less. 

I  once  heard  a  doctor  say  in  responding  for  the  medical  gentle- 
men, that  it  naturally  followed  that  the  more  doctors  there  were  in 
a  community  the  more  sickness  and  affliction  there  must  necessarily 
be !  The  reverse  is  the  case  with  the  legal  fraternity.  The  more 
lawyers  the  less  litigation  and  greater  the  happiness !  This  is  the 
very  best  reason  why  you  should  tolerate  those  you  have  with  you 
and  encourage  others  to  come !  Beyond  a  question  of  doubt,  the 
morals  of  the  inhabitants  are  better  than  in  the  earlier  days  of  the 
town,  and  the  morbid  love  for  strife  and  litigation  which  we  are 
told  once  prevailed  to  such  an  extent  that  almost  everybody  in 
town  was  involved  in  some  kind  of  a  lawsuit  or  personal  quarrel, 
is  constantly  diminishing.  The  lawyers  in  a  self  sacrificing  spirit  are 
willing  to  take  upon  themselves,  very  largely,  if  not  entirely,  the  re- 
sponsibility of  this  improved  condition  of  society  and  the  peaceful 
turn  of  mind  that  now  seems  to  pervade  the  whole  community !  This 
is  a  very  desirable  condition  of  affairs  for  the  people,  but  how  is  it 
for  the  lawyers  ?  Cannot  you  see  that  it  is  mighty  hard  for  the  "green 
bag"  fraternity?  It  is  safe  to  say  that,  with  five  lawyers  in  Peter- 
borough, there  is  not  more  than  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  the  litiga- 
tion there  was  in  the  early  history  of  the  town.  Certainly  there  is 
no  occasion  for  the  town  to  consider  the  proposition  of  giving  any 
lawyer  a  bonus  of  five  hundred  dollars  a  year  to  stay  here,  simply 
to  discourage  lawsuits  and  litigation  as  it  once  proposed  to  do  by 
Jeremiah  Smith.  There  seems  to  be  but  very  little  inducement  for 
young  men  to  prepare  themselves  and  engage  in  the  legal  profes- 
sion now  days  in  this  community,  except  to  promote  and  secure 
good  order,  and  stimulate  "peace  and  good  will  on  earth"  among 
the  children  of  men !  This  we  do  as  a  matter  of  fact,  purely  from 
benevolent  and  philanthropic  principles  and  compunction  of  con- 
science, in  an  unbegrudging,  self  sacrificing  manner,  and  withal,  a 
firm  determination  to  keep  constantly  in  view,  whether  we  do 
much  business  or  but  little,  the  noble  principles  once  expressed  by 
Daniel  Webster  at  a  public  dinner  when  called  upon  to  respond  in 
behalf  of  "The  Lawyers,"  when  he  closed  with  this  sentiment: 
"The  law.  It  has  honored  us;  may  we  honor  it."  Such  truly  has 
been  the  practice,  purpose,  and  character  of  the  older  "Lawyers  of 
Peterborough"  who  have  completed  their  work  and  gone  to  their 
reward,  leaving  for  the  people  of  this  town  the  proud  conscious- 
ness that  her  sons  have  not  only  honored  the  law,  but  that  they 
have  elevated  and  dignified  that  profession  which  is  adorned 


116 

with  the  brightest  and  keenest  intellect  of  mankind.  May  their 
example  be  emulated  by  those  now  in  the  drama  of  active  life,  and 
may  those  who  follow  us  continue  to  elevate  and  dignify  the  hon- 
orable profession.  The  influence  and  example  of  such  men  as  I 
have  spoken  of,  ought  at  least  to  prevent  us  and  those  who  shall 
succeed  us,  from  becoming  promoters  and  conspirators  of  strife, 
and  at  least  encourage  them  to  strive  to  attain  the  highest  ideal  in 
the  profession,  to  cause  them  to  feel  that  they  are  not  merely 
lawyers,  having  an  aim  only  for  personal  gain,  but  to  realize  that 
that  they  are  indeed  ministers  in  the  Temple  of  Justice,  that  justice 
is  demanding  of  them  to  subordinate  greed  and  glorification  after 
the  manner  and  custom  of  men,  and  to  devote  their  energy  in  assist- 
ing to  redress  wrong,  preventing  oppression,  and  securing  eternal 
justice  between  man  and  man.  This  much  briefly  told  of  the  his- 
tory of  the  sons  and  "Lawyers  of  Peterborough"  who  have  prac- 
ticed the  legal  profession  here  and  elsewhere  will  be  sufficient  at 
this  time  to  convince  an  intelligent  people  that  they  have  occupied 
no  ignoble  place  in  this  town  and  other  communities  in  which  they 
have  lived ;  that  they  have  been  conspicuous  actors  in  the  grand 
events  which  make  up  the  history  of  our  town  and  country,  and  I 
trust  I  shall  not  be  considered  presumptuous  if  I  state  that  the  law- 
yers hold  a  position  in  local  and  public  matters  by  virtue  of  their 
profession,  which  places  them  paramount  to  all  other  professional 
men,  and  that  the  lawyers  who  have  practiced  in  Peterborough  and 
her  sons  who  have  practiced  elsewhere  have  had  a  great  influence  in 
shaping  and  directing  the  destiny  of  affairs,  and  compare  favorably 
in  ability  and  legal  attainments  with  those  of  any  other  town  in 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire. 

"The  Lawyers  of  Peterborough"  have  served  you  in  the  govern- 
ment of  your  town,  they  have  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
the  cause  of  education,  they  have  always  been  interested  in  your 
churches  and  the  cause  of  Christianity,  they  have  always  been 
found  on  the  side  of  truth  and  justice,  they  have  been  of  liberal 
mind  and  advanced  ideas,  they  have  served  you  in  both  branches 
of  the  State  legislature  and  as  the  governor  and  chief  executive  of 
the  State,  they  have  filled  and  honored  every  department  in  our 
courts  of  justice,  they  have  sat  upon  the  bench,  have  influenced 
courts  by  their  logical  and  legal  arguments,  and  warped  the  minds 
of  jurists  by  the  force  of  their  strong  and  eloquent  pleas.  Their 
voices  have  been  heard  in  the  halls  of  our  National  Congress,  and 
when  law,  and  argument,  and  modern  diplomacy  have  failed 
among  men  and  nations  to  establish  the  right  and  correct  the 
wrong,  they  have  been  seen  in  the  foremost  rank  of  danger  on  the 
field  of  battle  fighting  for  justice,  defending  the  flag  and  protect- 
ing their  country's  honor,  and  above  all  else,  they  have  been  re- 
spectable citizens,  at  all  times  taking  an  interest  in  the  general  wel- 
fare and  prosperity  of  the  town,  and  as  a  rule,  have  had  the  confi- 


117 

dence  and  respect   of  their  fellow  citizens  in  the  community  in 
which  they  lived. 

Our  historian  somewhere  records  the  fact  that  the  ministerial 
history  of  the  town  is  the  darkest  page  in  the  calendar.  The  legal 
profession  has  furnished  no  such  chapter  for  our  history.  "The 
Lawyers  of  Peterborough"  need  no  words  of  mine  to  defend  them, 
and  I  cannot  pronounce  a  more  fitting  and  truthful  eulogy,  or  one 
that  will  speak  louder  in  their  praise  or  more  eloquently  in  their 
commendation  than  by  saying,  and  without  fear  of  contradiction, 
that  they  have  taken  part  and  been  associated,  at  some  time,  in 
some  place,  and  in  some  way,  with  some  or  all  of  the  great  and 
grand  events,  either  local  or  national,  the  accomplishment  of  which 
has  made  our  town,  and  county,  and  state,  and  country,  so  grand 
and  glorious,  and  Peterborough  has  indeed  especial  reason  to  be 
proud  of  her  sons  who  have  made  law  their  profession.  They  have 
all  discharged  their  duty  and  performed  their  part  as  American 
citizens  in  working  out  the  glory  and  salvation  of  our  common 
country,  securing  for  us  an  honorable  and  independent  existence 
among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  the  future  possibilities  of  which 
are  grand  beyond  conception.  Of  the  seventeen  lawyers  who  have 
practiced  in  Peterborough,  I  have  made  brief  mention  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  five  last  named,  who  are  now  living  and  are  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  their  profession  in  this  town.  Of  them  it  is  not  my 
purpose  to  speak  individually.  You  know  them  all  as  well  as  I. 
Our  race  in  life  is  not  run,  our  work  like  most  of  our  predecessors 
of  whom  I  have  spoken  is  unfinished,  and  we  will  leave  them  and 
their  labor,  and  their  record,  as  subjects  for  future  generations, 
and  for  those  who  will  celebrate  the  two  hundreth  anniversary  of 
our  town  fifty  years  from  to-day,  trusting  my  friends  that  the  law 
will  be  as  ably  promulgated  and  as  honestly  and  conscientiously 
administered  during  the  next  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  as  it  has 
been  in  the  past,  and  that  Peterborough  may  continue  to  raise  up 
men  who  will  do  equal  honor  to  the  legal  profession. 

The  Chairman: 

Mu.  PRESIDENT: — I  desire  to  present  now  a  gentleman,  a  son  of 
Peterborough,  one  who  as  a  companion  and  schoolmate  in  boyhood 
I  remember  as  deeply  interested  in  vocal  and  instrumental  music. 
I  introduce  to  you  Ethan  Hadley,  Esq.,  of  Chicopce,  Mass.,  who 
will  speak  to  the  theme, 

"Ouu  FORMER  CITIZENS." 

MR.  CHAIRMAN  AND  FELLOW  CITIZENS  OF  MY  NATIVE  TOWN: — 
It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  be  present  with  you  today,  to  look 
in  the  faces  of  so  many  I  knew  in  boyhood,  and  to  have  so  vividly 
brought  to  remembrance  the  events  of  fifty  years  ago.  But  there 
comes  a  feeling  of  sadness  as  I  look  back  over  the  neighborhoods  of 


118 

my  acquaintance,  call  to  mind  the  inmates  of  the  homes,  my  as- 
<0,-iatt>s  and  schoolmates,  :nnl  km>\\  llial  a  l:ir»-c  ninjorily  of  them 
are  gone,  never  to  return.  My  father's  household  seems  to  be  an 
exception.  There  were  eight  brothers  and  sisters  then,  and  all 
are  living  today ;  also,  three  others  born  since,  the  youngest  about 
forty  years  of  age.  Nearly  a  generation  has  come  and  gone  since 
I  have  resided  here,  and  yet  there  are  no  places  or  localities  that 
come  back  to  mind  with  such  pleasurable  distinctness  as  the  hills  and 
mountains,  valleys  and  streams  of  Peterborough. 

I  was  u  small  lad  of  eleven  years  at  the  time  of  the  celebration 
of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary,  too  young  to  be  permitted  to 
take  any  active  part  in  the  exercises  of  that  occasion,  but  my  fa- 
ther was  a  member  of  the  choir,  and  I  being  somewhat  musically 
inclined,  he  allowed  me  to  go  with  him  to  some  of  the  prelimina- 
ry gatherings  and  rehearsals  for  singing.  I  remember  of  going 
to  a  meeting  in  the  old  town  hall  on  what  is  now  Concord  street, 
called  to  make  arrangements  for  the  singing,  an  important  part  of 
which  was  to  choose  a  leader.  The  choice  lay  between  two — Mr. 
Nahum  Warren  and  Mr.  Milton  Carter.  Now,  for  certain  reasons, 
I  had  come  to  entertain  the  highest  respect  for  the  musical  ability 
of  Nahum  Warren,  and  felt  very  sure  that  he  ought  to  be  chosen 
leader,  but  when  the  vote  was  taken,  it  was  found  that  a  large  ma- 
jority thought  otherwise,  and  Mr.  Carter  was  elected.  As  I  look 
back  upon  it  now  with  maturer  judgment,  I  should  say,  that  while 
the  singers  did  not  choose  the  best  musician,  they  nevertheless 
made  no  mistake  in  the  choice,  for  Mr.  Carter,  with  his  goahead- 
itiveness,  push  and  musical  enthusiam,  would  arouse  an  interest  in 
the  singers  that  Mr.  Warren  very  likely  would  have  failed  to  have 
done. 

After  choosing  a  leader  came  the  question  as  to  what  should  be 
sung.  Selections  were  made  from  old  and  somewhat  familiar 
music,  but  they  thought  that  the  grand  occasion  called  for  some- 
thing new,  and  so  sent  abroad  and  procured  an  anthem  entitled, 
"A  Multitude  of  Angels."  It  was  a  noisy  and  somewhat  peculiar 
piece  of  music,  and  some  of  the  lads  of  the  village  named  it  "a 
multitude  of  devils."  Probably  it  has  not  been  sung  in  Peterbo- 
rough since  then ;  certainly  I  have  never  heard  it,  but  think  I  can 
recall  somo  of  the  opening  strains.  (Sings.) 

"A  multitude  of  angels,  a  multitude  of  angels, 
Witlr-a  shout!  with  a  shout!" 

And  in  thought  I  can  see  Mr.  Carter  as  he  stood  there  drilling 
the  united  choirs,  vigorously  marking  the  time  with  his  fiddle  bow, 
or  joining  in  the  chorus  with  voice  and  violin,  trying  to  beget  in 
the  singers  something  of  his  own  enthusiasm.  And  he  met  with 
commendable  success;  for  when  the  time  arrived,  the  music  was 
forcibly  rendered,  and  "A  Multitude  of  Angels"  filled  every  nook 
and  corner  of  the  church. 


119 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th,  probably  every  boy  in  town  who 
could  do  so  was  in  the  village.  I  was  on  hand,  and  as  the  proces- 
sion was  being  formed  on  Concord  street,  very  naturally  gravita- 
ted to  the  front  where  the  musicians  were,  for  we  had  a  band  that 
day.  If  a  comparison  was  to  be  made  between  that  and  the  one 
to  whose  stirring  strains  we  have  listened  today,  it  might  in  some 
respects  be  unfavorable  for  the  former  organization,  but  they  were 
no  mean  company  of  musicians.  Small  in  numbers,  but  not  small 
men.  There  was  Mr.  Morse  of  Dublin,  a  man  of  stalwart  frame, 
though  he  plaj  ed  a  small  instrument — an  E-flat  bugle,  but  little 
used  at  the  present  time ;  and  Mr.  Phillips,  known  as  Dick  Phillips. 
As  I  recall  him,  he  had  largeness  in  more  directions  than  one. 
Large  eyebrows,  a  large  face,  mouth  and  lips,  and  large  also  in  the 
region  of  the  stomach  and  abdomen.  But  when  he  put  the  large 
cup  or  mouthpiece  of  his  instrument  to  those  large  lips,  the  tones 
that  came  forth  from  that  slide  trombone,  were  anything  but  small. 
They  were  true  and  telling.  And  there  was  Merrill  Peavey,  who 
played  a  B-flat  bugle — another  instrument  gone  out  of  use.  And 
there  were  three  brothers  of  the  AVhite  family,  all  of  them  full  of 
music ;  and  there  were  probably  some  others  whom  I  do  not  recall. 
Now  these  musicians  were  in  readiness  to  play  with  music  selec- 
ted and  in  their  bookracks,  when  the  marshal  of  the  day,  Gen. 
John  Steele,  walked  to  the  front,  and  in  a  courteous  yet  somewhat 
dignified  manner,  said:  "'Gentlemen  of  the  band  will  please  play, 
"All  Long  Syne."  Now,  evidently,  "Auld  Lang  Syne"  was  not 
in  the  program,  and  the  musicians  looked  at  one  another  enquir- 
ingly, as  if  to  say,  what  shall  we  do?  One  said,  "We  can't  play  it." 
Another,  "O,  yes  we  can."  "Well,  what  key  shall  we  play  it  in?" 
After  deciding  what  the  key  should  be,  at  the  word  of  command 
they  played  without  notes,  marching  to  the  slow  time  of  this  famil- 
iar air  to  the  church,  where  they  continued  playing  until  the  celeb- 
rities and  veterans  had  passed  in,  when  the  tune  was  changed 
for  a  lively  quickstep.  There  may  be  some  of  those  players  pres- 
ent, and  I  am  querying  whether  they  can  recall  that  tune.  I  fancy 
its  strains  are  running  through  my  mind,  and  for  their  sakes  and 
those  who  heard  them,  without  regard  to  musical  taste  or  style, 
will  endeavor  to  give  them  vocal  form.  (Sings  "The  Prince  Eugene 
Quickstep.")  And  so,  marching  to  the  rapid  movement  of  this 
rollicking  quickstep,  the  church  was  soon  filled  to  overflowing,  and 
there  was  no  room  for  boys.  At  least  I  thought  so,  and  being  a 
somewhat  bashful  boy,  failed  to  gain  admittance,  and  therefore 
recall  little  else  that  was  done. 

There  are  many  here  to-day  who  were  here  fifty  years  ago.  There 
are  probably,  also,  many  who  will  be  living  when  the  two  hun- 
dredth anniversary  shall  come ;  but  none  of  us,  fellow  citizens, 
who  can  remember  the  past  fifty  years,  will  be  living  then,  to  re- 
call the  present.  We  shall  all  have  yielded  to  the  fell  destroyer. 


120 

But  thanks,  there  will  be  no  lack  of  people  to  celebrate  the  two 
hundredth  anniversary,  if  they  choose  to  do  so.  1  believe  there  is 
a  future  yet  for  Peterborough;  when  man  shall  have  advanced  in 
knowledge  as  he  surely*  will,  and  better  understands  how  to  utilize 
the  sources  of  wealth,  comfort  and  power,  to  bo  found  in  the 
streams  and  soil,  and  beneath  the  soil  of  these  hills  and  valleys; 
and  when  some  of  the  evils  that  have  afflicted,  and  do  still  afflict 
this  as  well  as  most  other  towns, — when  these  shall  have  been  put 
far  away,  there  shall  be  found  dwelling  here  in  generations  to 
come,  a  prosperous,  contented  and  happy  people. 

The  Chairman: 

I  will  now  call  upon  James  F.  Breunan,  Esq.,  to  respond  to  the 
closing  toast  for  this  occasion, 

"Ouii  IRISH  AMERICAN  CITIZENS." 

MR.  TOASTMASTER,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN: — My  memory  leads 
me  back  over  a  comparatively  brief  part  of  the  time  covered  by  the 
recollections  of  the  gray  haired  men  and  women  who  are  here  pres- 
ent. I  was  born  in  this  beautiful  village;  my  first  hallowed  rec- 
ollections cluster  here;  its  territory  is  familiar  to  me;  I  know  its 
people  and  something  of  its  history,  and  wherever  I  go  my  mind 
reverts  with  pride  to  this  good  old  town.  It  is  with  great  pleasure 
that  I  accept  the  honor  of  responding  to  this  toast,  and.  in  what  I 
have  to  say  shall  not  refer  to  the  comparatively  modern  generation 
of  Irishmen — Murphy,  Brennau,  Hamill,  Noone,  and  scores  of 
others — and  their  descendants,  who  have  helped  to  build  up  this 
town,  and  whose  history  should  be  left  for  a  resume  of  fifty  years 
hence,  but  to  those  early  settlers  who  came  across  the  ocean,  and 
their  descendants;  men  who  risked  all,  even  life  itself,  to  make 
this  spot  a  fit  place  for  the  abode  of  men.  They  were  com- 
posed in  a  very  small  part  of  Scotchmen,  Englishmen  and  other 
nationalities,  but  the  essential  part  of  the  pioneers  of  our  town,  in 
fact  nearly  all  of  them,  were  Irishmen,  for  I  assume  that  where 
men  were  born  in  Ireland,  as  they  were,  where  many  of  their  fa- 
thers, perhaps,  also,  some  of  their  grandfathers  were  born,  they 
were  men  who  can  unqualifiedly  be  called  Irishmen.  Adopt  any 
other  standard  and  a  large  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  Ireland  at  the 
time  they  emigrated  would  not  be  considered  Irishmen,  and  prob- 
ably few  persons  in  this  town  to-day  would  be  considered  Ameri- 
cans. The  Scotchmen  who  came  to  Ireland,  and  from  whom  some 
of  the  pioneers  of  this  town  trace  their  ancestry,  landed  on  that 
Emerald  Isle,  as  our  town  history  records  it,  in  1610,  more  than  a 
century  and  a  quarter  before  their  descendants  came  to  this  country 
in  1730.  They  were  indeed  Irishmen  to  the  manor  born,  with 
all  the  traits,  impulses  and  characteristics  of  that  people,  having,  as 
the  Kev.  Dr.  Morison  said  in  his  centennial  address,  the  "comic 
humor  and  pathos  of  the  Irish,"  and  to  their  severe  character  and 


121 

habits  "another  comforter  came  in,  of  Irish  parentage;  the  long 
countenance  became  short,  the  broad  Irish  humor  besran  to  rise," 
etc.  Need  I  ask  the  indulgence  of  my  hearers  if  I  occupy  a  part  of 
the  time  allotted  to  me  in  naming  some  of  these  men  who  were  the 
founders  of  this  town  and  the  inaugurators  of  civilization  in  this 
section  ? 

Samuel  Gordon  and  wife  (Eleanor  Mitchell)  were  born  in  the 
County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  as  were  also  his  father  and  mother;  they 
are  all  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  on  the  hill.  By  marriage  the 
blood  intermixed  with  Holden,  Kimball,  Barnes,  Pierce,  Cochran, 
Dickey,  White,  Brooks  and  Hurd. 

William  Alld  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1723,  and  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers.  The  blood  mixed  by  marriage  with  Swan,  Metcalf , 
Worcester,  Way  and  Whitten. 

John  McKean  was  born  in  Ballymony,  Ireland,  in  1714,  and  was 
the  ancestor  of  all  the  McKeans  iu  this  section.  His  son  James 
lived  and  died  on  the  David  Blanchard  place. 

John  Ferguson  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1704,  and  came  to  this 
country  with  the  Smiths,  Wilsons  and  Littles.  The  blood  in- 
fused into  Morison,  Stuart,  Duncan,  Miller,  Moore,  Evans  and 
Whiting. 

George  Duncan  was  born  in  Ireland  and  was  the  ancestor  of  all 
of  that  name  in  this  section.  Shortly  after  emigrating  he  married 
Mary  Bell  of  Ballymony,  and  their  progeny  married  into  Taggart, 
Todd,  Black,  McClellan,  Moore,  Wallace,  Wells  and  Cumrnings. 

John  Swan  came  from  Ireland,  and  the  family  mixed  by  mar- 
riage with  Parker,  Stuart,  GSlchrest.  Morse,  Caldwell,  Alld,  Saw- 
yer, Graham,  Chamberlain,  Nay,  Hoyt,  Steele,  Hannaford,  Moore. 
Mitchell,  Cutter  and  White. 

Joseph  Turner  and  wife  emigrated  from  Ireland  with  their  sons 
Thomas,  Joseph  and  William,  who  were  all  born  there.  The  blood 
by  marriage  went  into  Wellman,  Sanders,  Shedd,  Converse,  Nich- 
ols, Goodhue,  Nutting,  Taggart,  Davis  and  Preston. 

John  Moore  emigrated  from  Ireland  in  1718,  and  is  the  ancestor 
of  all  of  the  same  name  here.  The  blood  mixed  by  marriage  with 
Jewett,  Priest,  Taggart,  Woodward,  Smith,  Gregg,  Dinsmore. 
Wood,  Steele,  Turner,  Holmes,  Burnham,  Jordan  and  Phelps. 

Andrew  Todd  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1097,  and  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Moore.  Their  progeny  married  with  Morison,  Miller, 
Taggart  and  Brown. 

John  Smiley,  after  his  marriage,  emigrated  from  Ireland.  The 
blood  by  marriage  went  into  Miller,  Hovey,  Parker,  McCoy,  Wil- 
son and  Leonard. 

Abial  Sawyer  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1721,  where  also  his  wife 
was  born  in  1720.  From  them  all  of  the  name  about  here  trace 
their  origin,  intermixing  by  marriage  with  Gregg,  Bailey,  Scott. 
Farnsworth,  Howard  and  Nichols. 


122 

Matthew  and  James  Templeton  came  from  Ireland,  and  their 
blood  intermixed  by  marriage  with  Holmes,  Miller,  Robbe,  Wil- 
der and  McCoy. 

William  Robbe,  both  of  his  wives,  and  seven  children,  were  all 
born  in  Ireland,  three  generations  of  the  family  having  lived 
there.  From  them  all  of  the  name  in  town  trace  their  origin. 
They  mixed  by  marriage  with  Taggart,  Whittemore,  Farnsworth, 
Mussey,  White,  Redding,  Chapman,  Gowing,  Livingston,  Morri- 
son, Moore,  Follansbee  and  Swallow. 

Thomas  Steele  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1694,  and  came  here  in 
1718.  The  blood  mixed  by  marriage  with  Gregg,  Mitchell,  Wil- 
son, Smith,  Ramsey,  Swan,  Senter,  Willey  and  Rice.  With  anoth- 
er branch  of  the  Steeles  which  emigrated  from  Ireland  was  the  fa- 
ther of  the  late  John  H.  Steele,  governor  of  our  State  in  1844-5. 

William  Wilson  emigrated  from  the  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in 
1737,  with  his  wife,  daughter,  and  son  Robert  who  was  born  in 
that  county,  and  who  commanded  a  party  of  men  organized  to  go 
to  Lexington,  armed,  as  our  town  history  says,  with  guns,  pitch- 
forks and  shillalahs.  The  blood  by  marriage  went  into  Swan, 
Steele,  Johnson,  Hunter,  Lee,  Gibbon,  Scott,  Jackson,  Sherwood, 
Fisk  and  Taintor. 

Thomas  Davidson  emigrated  from  Ireland  with  his  brother  John 
Davidson,  and  Matthew  Wright.  By  marriage  the  blood  went  in- 
to Patrick,  Hoar,  Dodge,  Clark,  Cutter  and  Nichols. 

Thomas  Cunningham  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  The  blood  mixed 
by  marriage  with  Robbe,  McKean,  Treadwell,  Hale,  Goodhue, 
Jackson,  Caldwell,  Porter  and  Bishop. 

John  Wallace  came  to  Londonderry  from  the  County  Antrim, 
Ireland,  in  1719,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  the  name  here.  The 
blood  is  mixed  with  Mitchell,  Noone  and  Spline. 

James  Gregg  emigrated  from  Ireland  to  Londondery  in  1718, 
and  was  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in  this  section.  The  fami- 
ly intermixed  with  Steele,  Gibbs,  Hutchins,  Nelson,  Macy  and 
Wright. 

William  McNee,  born  in  Ireland  in  1711,  was  one  of  the  settlers 
of  the  town.  Before  he  came  to  this  country  he  mai-ried  Mary  JC. 
Brownley,  by  whom  he  had  all  his  children.  His  descendants 
have  now  reached  the  eighth  generation,  but  unfortunately  the 
name  is  entirely  lost.  The  first  and  second  generations  retained 
the  name,  but  the  third  changed  it  to  Nay.  They  intermixed  with 
Cunningham,  Taggart,  Millikin,  Swan,  Upton,  Weston,  Davidson, 
Turner,  Miller,  Gilbert,  Frost,  Buss,  Wood,  Felt,  Cross,  Porter, 
Jaquith,  Vose,  Adams,  Young,  Balch,  Perkins  and  Hapgood. 

Nathaniel  Holmes  (the  ancestor  of  our  able  orator  here  to-day 
and  all  of  the  name  in  this  section)  was  born  in  Coleraine,  Ireland, 
a*  was  also  his  father.  Thus  we  have  three  generations  of  this 
family  which  lived  in  Ireland.  He  was  an  early  settler  and  by 


123 

marriage  the  blood  mixed  with  YVhittemore,  Adams,  Clement. 
Swasey,  Leach,  Kimball,  Dickey,  Hall,  Griffin,  Gregg-,  Miller. 
Aiken,  Bruce,  Sewall,  Smith,  Newton  and  Livingston. 

There  were  two  distinct  families  of  Millers  in  town,  remotely 
related ;  the  ancestors  of  both,  however,  came  from  Ireland.  Back 
to  these  people  our  president  of  this  day  and  all  of  the  name  here- 
abouts trace  their  ancestry.  They  intermarried,  with  Patterson, 
Burns,  Campbell,  Vickery,  Johnson,  Mead,  Shipman,  Templeton. 
McFarland,  White,  Duncan,  Davis,  Ropes,  Wilkins,  Phelps,  Mc- 
Coy, Thompson,  Cunningham,  Taggart,  Gowing,  Clark,  Gregg. 
Holt.  Sanderson,  Wilder  and  Scott. 

All  of  the  Whites  in  town,  including  the  marshal  of  this  day, 
are  descendants  of  Patrick  White,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in 
1710.  By  marriage  they  intermixed  witli  Stuart,  Shearer,  Gregg. 
Upton,  Cram,  Stearns,  Carley,  Parker,  Grant,  Dennis,  Goodwin. 
Farmer,  Perry,  Swan,  Pierce,  Fisk,  Washburn,  Whittemore,  Shat- 
tuck,  Leighton,  Burns,  Alld,  Grimes,  Loring,  Holmes,  Mitchell. 
Scott,  Cunningham,  Lakin,  Spafford,  Longley,  Kyes  and  Tenney. 

Samuel  Morison  and  wife  emigrated  from  Ireland,  leaving  their 
parents,  but  taking  with  them  eight  children,  who  were  all  born 
there.  From  them  descended  all  that  family  in  this  section  who 
spell  their  name  with  one  r,  including  our  poet  of  to-day,  and  the 
venerable  gentleman  whom  we  are  proud  to  have  with  us  here, 
who  delivered  the  oration  at  our  centennial  fifty  years  ago.  By 
marriage  their  blood  went  into  the  following  named  families: 
Steele,  Mack,  Knight,  Johnson,  Bassett,  Williams,  Mitchell,  Smith. 
Moore,  Todd,  Wallace,  Hale,  Graham,  Felt,  Wilcox,  Holmes,  Bux- 
ton  and  Wells. 

James  Smith,  the  progenitor  of  all  the  Smiths  in  this  section. 
was  from  Ireland.  His  son  Robert  was  born  in  Moneymore,  Ire- 
land, and  with  his  four  children,  John,  Sarah,  Mary  and  William, 
all  born  near  Lough  Xeagh,  came  to  this  country  in  17;><>.  Thus 
we  find  that  three  generations  of  this  family  were  from  Ireland. 
Dr.  Smith,  the  historian  of  our  town,  was  a  descendant  of  this 
family.  By  marriage  the  blood  went  into  Bell,  McNee,  Morison, 
White,  Annan,  Dunshee,  Fletcher,  Smiley,  Burns,  McCrillis,  Em- 
ery, Findley,  Pierce,  Russell,  Barker,  Fifield,  Cavender,  Walker. 
Gordon,  Fox,  Foster,  Reynolds,  Kilbourne,  Jones,  Leonard,  Blan- 
chard,  Lewis,  Cheney  and  Dearborn. 

William  Scott  emigrated  in  17;5(!  from  Coleraine,  Ireland,  where 
all  hi>  children  were  born,  among  them  William,  who  settled  here 
the  same  year.  This  man  and  his  father  were  Irish,  as  was  also 
Alexander  Scott,  progenitor  of  another  branch  which  settled  here 
and  emigrated  at  the  same  time.  From  these  families  sprang 
every  person  of  the  name  in  town,  among  them  our  efficient,  toast- 
master,  and  by  marriage  the  blood  has  mingled  with  Cochran. 
Kobbe.  Wills,  Maxfield,  Cumiiiings,  Ramsey.  Whitney,  Lincoln. 


124 

is,  Gray,  Dullard.  Jewett,  Fuller,  Towers,  Orr,  All.vn.  Bhin- 
« hard,  ('lurk  and  Hamsdell. 

This  is  only  a  partial  list  of  the  Irishmen  who  were  the  founders 
and  builders  of  Peterborough— which  may  be  completed  at  some 
future  time.  It  could  be  extended  considerably,  but  sufficient 
names  are  here  given  to  show  the  nationality  of  the  men  to  whom 
this  town  owes  its  existence.  All  the  brief  facts  here  given  are 
taken  from  the  history  of  this  town  and  that  of  Londonderry, 
X.  H. 

Thus  we  see  that  there  ai'e  comparatively  few  persons  in  town 
to-day,  with  the  exception  of  recent  comers,  who  have  not  coursing 
in  their  veins  the  blood  of  those  sturdy  Irishmen  who  made 
this  town  what  it  is,  whose  bodies  have  long  since  returned  to 
clay  in  the  old  cemetery  on  the  hill,  and  whose  history  is  the  his- 
tory of  the  town  itself.  Long  may  their  memory  be  cherished ! 
Long  may  the  pride  which  exists  in  such  ancestry  be  retained ! 
They  were  brave,  honest,  manly  men,  who  broke  down  the  bar- 
riers that  civilization  might  enter.  Their  lot  was  a  life  of  hard- 
ship; it  is  ours  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  work. 

Not  only  the  privations  of  this  cold,  uninviting  country  were 
theirs  to  suffer,  but  intolerance  and  bigotry  met  them  at  the 
threshold  of  the  country  to  which  they  were  about  to  bring  a  bless- 
ing. Rev.  Dr.  Morison  in  his  centennial  address,  said  that  when 
the  Smiths,  Wilsons,  Littles  and  others  arrived,  "it  was  noised 
about  that  a  pack  of  Irishmen  had  landed."  They  were  denied 
even  lodgings.  Mr.  Winship,  of  Lexington,  who  extended  a  wel- 
come to  them,  however,  said,  "If  this  house  reached  from  here  to 
Charlestown,  and  I  could  find  such  Irish  as  these,  I  would  have 
it  filled  up  with  Irish,  and  none  but  Irish." 

If  there  is  a  town  or  city  in  this  broad  land  owing  a  greater  debt 
of  gratitude  to  that  green  isle  over  the  sea  than  does  this  town,  I 
know  it  not.  If  there  is  a  place  which  should  extend  more 
earnest  and  loving  sympathy  to  Ireland  in  her  struggles,  I  know 
not  where  it  is.  It  was  there  that  your  forefathers  and  mine 
were  born;  there  where  their  infant  feet  were  directed;  there 
where  they  were  educated  in  those  grand  principles  of  hon- 
esty, sturdy  manhood  and  bravery  well  fitting  them  to  become 
the  pioneers  of  any  country,  and  fortunate  it  was  for  that  land 
toward  which  they  turned  their  faces.  Here  they  built  their  log 
cabins,  and  shrines  to  worship  God,  and  reared  families  of  from 
eight  to  sixteen  children,  for  they  were  people  among  whom  large 
families  were  popular,  and  the  more  modern  aversion  to  a  large  num- 
ber of  children  had  not  taken  possession  of  those  God-fearing  men 
and  women.  Happy  it  was  that  the  duty  of  populating  this  coun- 
try was  theirs,  and  not  that  of  the  present  generation,  whose  dispo- 
sition to  do  this  might  be  doubted.  Dr.  Smith  writes  in  our  town 
history :  "Of  the  large  and  influential  families  of  Todd,  Templeton, 


Swan,  Alld,  Stuart,  Cunningham,  Mitchell,  liitcbie,  Ferguson,  and 
many  more,  not  a  single  individual  of  their  family  remains  in 
town;  and  of  the  large  families  of  Steele,  IJobbe,  Smith,  Morison, 
Moore  and  Holmes,  their  numbers  are  greatly  lessened,  and  they 
are  growing  less  every  year." 

In  reviewing  the  character  of  these  men,  we  should  not,  as  a 
first  essential,  go  into  an  inquiry  of  how  they  worshipped  God:  of 
what  wei-e  their  religious  or  political  belief;  whether  Protestant 
or  Catholic,  Whig  or  Tory.  We  only  ask  were  they  honest  men. 
holding  fast  to  those  principles  which  they  believed  right?  The 
answer  to  this  will  not  bring  the  blush  of  shame  upon  our  cheek, 
nor  the  consciousness  of  regret  that  their  blood  is  part  and  parcel 
of  our  bodies.  If  we  follow  in  their  footsteps  in  our  dealings 
with  men ;  if  we  are  as  honest  and  courageous  as  they ;  if  we  do 
an  equal  share  to  make  the  world  better  and  more  attractive  to  fu- 
ture generations,  we  can,  when  the  toil  of  this  life  is  over,  rest  in 
the  secure  belief  of  duty  well  done. 

The  Chairman : 

The  lateness  of  the  hour  and  the  gathering  darkness  remind  me 
that  these  very  interesting  exercises  must  be  brought  to  a  close. 
The  audience  wLl  now  rise  and  join  the  choir  in  singing  "Amer- 
ica:" 

•'My  country,  'tis  of  thee." 

Sung  by  the  united  audience  with  great  spirit,  after  which  the 
gathering  adjourned  to  meet  October  24,  1939. 


ANTIQUARIAN  DEPARTMENT. 


This  department,  under  the  management  of  the  very  efficient 
committee,  proved  to  be  one  of  the  chief  attractions  to  those  who 
were  so  fortunate  as  to  gain  admission  (o  the  limited  quarters  as- 
signed for  the  display  of  the  rare  exhibits  that  were  contributed 
on  the  occasion.  The  following  is  a  partial  list,  although  many 
other  articles  of  interest,  and  equally  deserving  of  notice  were  on 
exhibition: 

Wm.  Ames — two  iron  kettles  130  years  old,  warming  pan  and 
foot  warmer. 

Mrs.  A.  "W.  Noone — hand  card  75  years  old. 

Mrs.  H.  P.  Bullard — slippers,  black  veil,  hose  and  sampler  made 
in  1825. 

Prof.  M.  H.  Fiske  of  Temple — pocket  register  taken  by  his 
grandfather  from  the  dead  body  of  a  British  soldier  during  the 
year  1777. 

Mrs.  F.  F.  My  rick — China  teapot  and  glass  tea  caddy  brought 
from  China  in  1795. 

Miss  Fannie  Richardson — ear  jewels  160  years  old. 

John  Scott — first  mirror  brought  to  town,  and  very  old  cups  and 
saucers. 

J.  F.  Brennan — copies  of  the  first  written  and  first  printed  cata- 
logues of  the  town  library,  and  a  complete  set  of  annual  town 
reports. 

Mrs.  John  Adams — bread  toaster,  bedspread,  ancient  crockery, 
coffee  and  tea  pot. 

Mrs.  Betsey  Washburn — plate,  sampler  and  toddy  tumbler. 

Mrs.  Frank  Spaulding — dress,  crockery,  chair,  and  tea  canister, 
all  centenarians. 

Mrs.  J.  E.  Saunders — spider  a  century  old,  ancient  creamer  and 
plate. 

Mrs.  A.  L.  Nay — slippers,  book,  shoulder  cape,  snuffer  and  tray, 
bead  bag,  plate  and  nutmeg  grater. 

Mrs.  Fannie  Carter — choice  ancient  crockery. 

A.  W.  Noone — a  large  number  of  samples  of  goods  manufac- 
tured at  his  mill. 

Two  dolls  01  years  old  were  exhibited  by  Mrs.  Tubbs  and  Mrs. 
Avery,  and  pitcher  100  years  old  by  Flora  J.  Tubbs. 


127 

Mrs.  Fanny  Swan — tea  caddy  in  use  when  tea  was  $5  a  pound, 
old  chair.1 

Fred  S.  Piper — small  silver  spoons. 

Frank  Davis — sermon  121  years  old,  christening  cup  and  chair. 

C.  A.  Wheeler — continental  three  dollar  bill,  1775,  sun  dial  used 
by  the  thirteenth  family  which  settled  in  Hancock  in  1775,  a  buss 
made  with  a  pen-knife  and  finely  carved. 

Nellie  W.  McGilvray — 125  years  old  sugar  bowl  and  creamer. 

The  fine  old  framed  portraits  and  samplers  which  attracted  a 
large  share  of  attention,  were  sent  from  Rutherford,  N.  J.,  by 
Mrs.  Mary  L.  Hallock,  at  her  own  expense.  They  were  fine  like- 
nesses of  Daniel  and  Sally  (Allison)  Abbot,  both  born  in  London- 
derry in  1769.  The  portraits  were  painted  in  1806.  One  of  the 
samplers  was  made  by  Jane  Abbot,  afterwards  Mrs.  John  Scott  of 
Detroit,  Mich.,  in  1811,  and  the  other  by  Sally  Abbot,  afterwards 
Mrs.  Jefferson  Fletcher  of  Westford,  Mass.,  in  1818. 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Rice  of  Henuiker — skirt  embroidered  by  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Ramsey  in  1809,  when  in  her  14th  year,  veil  and  collar  by  Mrs. 
Betsey  Sleele,  collar  by  Jane  Steele,  towel  by  Irene  Felt,  pin  cush- 
ion and  handkerchief. 

Mrs.  Geo.  Cragin — pair  of  silver  candlesticks  brought  from  Eng- 
land to  Salem,  Mass.,  160  years  ago,  and  a  tooth  "from  the  whale, 
it  is  supposed,  that  swallowed  Jonah." 

Mrs.  Alice  Tucker — very  ancient  punch  bowl,  and  a  Bible  print- 
ed in  1734. 

Ancient  bibles  were  loaned  by  E.  M.  Felt,  F.  A.  Wallace,  Misses 
Lizzie  Blanchard  and  Mary  Snow. 

The  tall  clock  which  stood  at  the  right  of  the  stage  was  one  of 
the  first  brought  to  town,  and  is  the  property  of  John  C.  Swallow. 
The  little  wall  clock  suspended  at  the  left  of  the  stage  was  owned 
by  Mrs.  M.  A.  Howe,  and  is  a  relic  of  the  Waiting  family.  F.  P. 
Fisk  also  exhibited  a  very  ancient  time  piece. 

Of  ancient  books  thei'e  were  a  number,  the  oldest  being  a  work 
on  medicine,  printed  in  London,  England,  in  the  year  1652,  loaned 
by  C.  II.  Hayward. 

Geo.  H.  Longley  exhibited  a  pair  of  saddle  bags  once  belonging 
to  old  aunt  Susa  Morrison,  and  known  to  be  over  110  years  old. 

Mrs  Caroline  ('lark  exhibited  a  prayer  book  274  years  old,  also  a 
pair  of  spectacles  175  years  old,  cups,  saucers,  pepper  box,  mustard 
pots,  mugs,  salter,  plates,  pewter  porringer,  silver  teapot,  and  two 
very  ancient  chairs  finely  preserved  and  now  in  constant  daily  use. 

Mrs.  Isaac  D.  White  contributed  three  baby  caps  100  years  old. 
and  a  still  more  aged  nutmeg  grater,  cups  and  saucers,  two  samp- 
lers, and  an  hour  glass  which  has  been  an  heir  loom  in  her  family 
for  more  than  125  years. 


128 

Hon.  Peter  Clark  of  New  Ipswich  presented  an  old  German  flag- 
on made  in  the  year  1671.  It  was  unearthed  in  Sharon,  some  time 
since,  by  a  man  who  was  engaged  in  digging  out  a  woodchuck. 

Mrs.  W.  G.  Livingston— copy  of  the  first  sermon  preached  in 
New  England,  teapot -more  than  100  years  old,  candlestick  100 
years  old. 

Mrs.  Charles  Jewett— Mother  Goose's  melodies,  printed  in  1733. 

Sampson  Washburn — linen  doily  made  from  flax  grown  on 
Washburn  farm,  of  which  samples  were  shown ;  choice  needle 
work  and  two  old  almanacs. 

Mrs.  A.  II.  Wheeler— hour  glass,  slippers  175  and  stockings  150 
years  old,  home  made  linen,  two  ladies'  wallets,  lady's  lunch  bag. 

Benoni  Fuller — table  100  years  old. 

H.  W.  Dunbar — relic  of  old  meeting  house. 

Mrs.  Charles  Scott — brass  candlesticks,  brought  from  England 
1 16  years  ago. 

Mrs.  Samuel  Taggart— elegant  old  China  tea  set. 

Miss  Ellen  Edes — black  silk  wedding  dress  worn  by  J.  D.  Dia- 
mond's grandmother  125  years  ago. 

A.  F.  Grimes — pair  brass  candlesticks,  and  silver  castor  former- 
ly owned  by  Mrs.  L.  W.  Hogan — a  choice  relic. 

Mrs.  Clarence  White — elegant  China  tea  set,  old  fashioned  high 
backed  comb,  clock  reel. 

James  Wilson — old  oval,  swinging  tavern  sign,  ''William  Wil- 
son, 1798;"  spinning  wheel,  clock  reel  and  old  portrait. 

Wm.  Moore — ancient  chair  and  two  old  paintings  in  water  col- 
ors. 

J.  C.  Swallow — linen  sheet  and  bedspread  made  on  hand  loom, 
and  a  well  preserved  old  surveyor's  compass  used  in  the  early  days 
of  Peterborough. 

Mrs.  P.  D.  Brown — books  158  years  old,  handkerchief,  breast- 
pin, spectacles,  thread  case  and  shawl. 

Mrs.  L.  R.  Pierce — sampler,  handglass,  spectacles,  ancient  book, 
pewter  plate  and  basin. 

Miss  Ann  Woodward — Ladies'  circular  made  from  a  dress  more 
than  200  years  old,  sun  dial  brought  from  Ireland  200  years  ago, 
and  a  copy  of  one  of  the  first  geographies  used  in  this  country. 

Mrs.  George  Hunt — gourd  used  as  a  coffee  holder,  candlesticks 
used  in  the  illumination  of  the  old  Hancock  house  in  Boston  when 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  celebrated,  powder  horn, 
sampler,  etc.,  from  the  estate  of  the  late  Col.  John  Little. 


CENTENNIAL  NOTES, 


PETERBOROUGH   CADET   BAND. 


The  following'  is  a  list  of  the  members  of  Peterborough  Cadet 
Band  at  the  150th  anniversary  celebration  : 


Henry  B.  Ncedham, 
Fred  J.  Ames,     . 
Louis  J.  Dean, 
Scott  J.  Appletou, 
Frank  H.  Osborn, 
William  P.  Averill,    . 
George  W.  Preston, 
Thomas  F.  Burns, 
Fred  G.  Livingston, 
Charles  A.  Robbe, 
Louis  E.  Fitzgerald, 
Augustin  Blanchette, 
George  F.  Diamond, 
Charles  H.  Warren,  . 
Fred  G.  Robbe,      . 
Fred  W.  Hardy, 
Frank  E.  Longley, 
Frank  E.  Russell, 
Algernon  L.  Holt, 
Charles  G.  Rourke,  . 
Abraham  E.  Burgess. 
Edgar  J.  Tread  well, 


Drum  Major. 

Leader  and  Director. 

Piccolo. 

E-flat  Clarinet. 

.      B-flat  Clarinet. 

.  E-flat  Cornet. 

E-flat  Cornet. 

.  Solo  B-flat  Cornet. 

.  1st  B-flat  Cornet- 

.       1st  B-flat  Cornet. 

.   2d  B-flat  Cornet. 

.     1st  Alto. 

2dAlto. 

.     3d  Alto. 

1st  Trombone. 

.   Baritone. 

.    B-flat  Bass. 

Tuba. 

.      Tuba. 

Bass  Drum. 

Snare  Drum. 

.    Cymbals. 


NAMES   OF   THE   SESQUI-CENTENNIAL   SINGERS. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  who  took  part  in 
the  singing  exercises : 

William  Moore  Director.        Mrs.  Addie  C.  Leathe,  Pianist. 
Soprano. 


Mrs.  F.  K.  Longley, 
Mrs.  Will  A.  Knight, 
Mrs.  A.  E.  Ollis, 
Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Ames,  Jr., 
Mrs.  Agnes  A.  Wheeeler, 
Mrs.  Alvali  Puffer, 
Mrs.  Margie  A.  Davis, 

Miss  Lena 


Mrs.  Abbic  M.  Colby, 
Mrs.  J.  L.  Fleming, 
Miss  L.  Carrie  Blanchard. 
Miss  Nellie  C.  White, 
Miss  Flora  J.  Tubbs, 
Miss  Alice  J.  Sawyer, 
Miss  Ethel  C.  Smith, 
M.  Shedd. 


Alto. 


Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Farrar, 
Mrs.  H.  B.  Hatch, 
Mrs.  F.  .1.  Shedd, 
Mrs.  J.  IJ.  Shedd, 
Mrs.  J.  R.  Mooney, 


Mrs.  G.  R.  Senter, 
Mrs.  Gadif  F.  Hartley. 
Mrs.  Geo.  A.  Sanders. 
Miss  Addie  F.  Bailey, 
Miss  Cora  E.  Davis. 


180 
Tenor. 


II.  Hardy. 
George  C.  Duncan, 
.Folni  Cragin, 
Daniel  F.  Kmery, 
Klbridge  Howe, 
Jerome  H.  Sli<>dd. 


William  T.  Lawrence. 
Luke  F.  Hiehardson, 
John  ().  Nay, 
NVill  A.  Knight, 


Bass. 


Frank  J.  Shedd, 
Edgar  M.  Wilkins, 
Albion  P.  Howe, 
John  W.  Howe, 
Thomas  A.  Liscord, 
Fred  B.  Thompson. 


Freeman  Pelsey, 
Charles  H.  Weeks, 
John  H.  Matthews, 
Charles  E.  Rav. 


Pieces  sung — Mo/art's  12th  Mass,  Glory  to  God  on  High;  Peter- 
borough: Ode  on  Science;  Strike  the  Cymbals;  Sons  of  Zion. 
and  America. 


THE  CONCERT. 

The  concert  in  the  evening  by  the  Arion  Quartet,  assisted  by  Miss 
Ida  Florence,  elocutionist,  of  Boston,  drew  a  large  audience  to  the 
opera  house.  The  following  is  the  program  rendered: 

1.  Quartet. "Praise  of  the  Soldier." 

2.  Reading "Robert  of  Lincoln." 

Miss  Florence. 
Encore— "The  Goblins." 

:).  Solo "Last  Night." 

W.  D.  Allen. 
Encore — "My  Pretty  Jane." 

4.  Quartet "Bill  of  Fare." 

Encore — "Laugh,  Boys,  Laugh." 

•>.  Heading Sleep  walking  scene  from  Macbeth. 

Miss  Florence. 

»'».  Ouet "Eight  Bells." 

Messrs.  Allen  and  Aborn. 

Quartet  \  a  "Toast." 

}  b  "The  Water  Mill." 

*.  Heading: Specimen  Reading  Class. 

Miss  Florence. 
Encore— "Two  Fond  Lovers." 

'.i.  Quartet "Simple  Simon." 

Encore— "Who  built  the  Ark  ?" 

H).  Solo "Man-o'- Wars-Man." 

Encore— 'Tomorrow  will  be  Friday." 

11.  Heading "Dorcas  Pennyroyal's  Love  Affairs." 

Encore— "Foreigners'  views  of  the  Statue' of  Liberty  in  New 
York  Harbor." 

12.  Quartet.        .        .        .  "Serenade." 


181 

As  the  numerous  encores  would  seem  to  indicate,  the  program 
was  enthusiastically  received,  and  the  evening's  entertainment  was 
si  pleasing  one.  The  singing  by  the  quartet  was  harmonious,  and 
Miss  Florence  won  immediate  favor  by  the  excellence  of  her  read- 
ings. The  net  receipts  added  a  goodly  sum  to  the  centennial  fund. 
Much  credit  is  due  to  Mr.  W.  D.  Allen,  formerly  superintendent 
of  the  shoe  factory  and  a  resident,  through  whose  efforts  the  ser- 
vices of  the  quartet  and  talented  reader  were  secured. 

Following  the  concert,  a  large  number  joined  in  a  social  dance 
under  the  auspices  of  Appleton's  orchestra,  the  centennial  program 
closing  with  the  concert. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  who  were  members  of  the  choir 
and  band  at  the  celebration  fifty  years  ago  who  were  present  at 
this  celebration:  Mrs.  Betsey  Follansbee.  aged  84  years;  Alvah 
Ames,  aged  83  years ;  Mrs.  Emeline  Twitchell  Clark,  Mrs.  Char- 
lotte Wilson  Jackson,  Mrs.  Sarah  Cheney  Abbott,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Stone  Peavey,  Mrs.  Andrew  A.  Farnsworth,  Mrs.  Louisa  E.  Burtt, 
MissElmira  Fife,  Miss  Elvira  Fife,  Andrew  A.  Farnsworth,  The- 
opbilus  P.  Ames,  members  of  the  choir;  Peter  H.  Clark  and  Steph- 
en White,  members  of  the  band. 

The  newspaper  men  present  wei'e  John  F.  Faxon  of  the  Boston 
Herald,  C.  C.  Clifford  of  the  Boston  Journal,  Geo.  H.  Longley  of 
the  Boston  Globe,  Burnharn  of  the  Manchester  Union,  A.  E.  De- 
Wolfe  of  the  Nashua  Telegraph,  E.  M.  Stanyan  and  F.  P.  Whitte- 
rnore  of  the  Nashua  Gazette,  J.  J.  Donahue  of  the  Associated 
Press,  E.  H.  Cheney  of  the  Lebanon  Free  Press,  and  A.  A.  Kotch 
of  the  Amherst  Cabinet. 

About  four  hundred  people  partook  of  the  excellent  dinner  fur- 
nished by  caterer  E.  H.  Smith,  who  received  many  compliments. 

It  is  estimated  that  there  were  nearly  one  thousand  former  sons 
and  daughters  of  Peterborough  present  at  the  celebration,  and  it  is 
to  be  regretted  that  a  correct  list  of  them  was  not  secured. 

It  should  pass  into  history  as  a  credit  to  this  town  that,  notwith- 
standing a  larger  number  of  people  than  ever  before  were  congre- 
gated here  on  sesqui-centennial  day,  not  a  single  arrest  was  made 
for  drunkenness  or  disorder,  and  we  have  yet  to  learn  that  any 
person  wan  seen  or  known  to  be  badly  intoxicated  upon  our  streets 
on  that  dav. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Form  L9-50m-4,'61(B8994s4)444 


Peterborough, 

N.H.  - 

Proceedings_of_ 
^he~~sela^centennial 

celebration 


F 

Ui 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


